Tuesday, April 14, 2026

CTV Orders Enthralling New Original Drama Series MOTIVE

It’s not a question of who did it, it’s a question of how and why. CTV announced today that it has ordered the procedural drama series MOTIVE (working title) from award-winning, Vancouver-based Foundation Features and Lark Productions. Thirteen episodes of the one-hour drama have been ordered. MOTIVE follows a feisty female Vancouver homicide detective who matches wits with killers in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. As she pieces together the clues of the murder, viewers are drawn inside the minds of the culprits. Daniel Cerone (THE MENTALIST, DEXTER) executive produces.

MOTIVE is developed for television by award winning producer Rob Merilees (Sleepwalking, Stone of Destiny), Rob LaBelle (MENTAL), Lindsay Macadam (The Entitled, Personal Effects), Emmy®-nominated producer Louise Clark (CORNER GAS, WHISTLER, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER ), and Erin Haskett (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER).

“With a distinctive voice and fresh take on the procedural drama, MOTIVE is unlike anything on television,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “MOTIVE is the first of several innovative projects joining Bell Media’s original production slate in 2012/2013.”

“We are very excited by this opportunity for Foundation and Lark to work together with great writing talent and to add another original production to CTV’s winning schedule,” said Executive Producers Rob Merilees and Louise Clark.

MOTIVE is an unconventional way to watch a crime unfold. Each episode begins by revealing not only the victim, but the killer as well. The homicide detective then begins to piece together clues. How did they do it? How are the victim and killer connected? What’s the motive? As the mystery unfolds, the audience navigates the twisted and complicated maze of each murder and solves the puzzle alongside the detective and her team.

MOTIVE is produced by Foundation Features and Lark Productions in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Daniel Cerone, Louise Clark, Rob Merilees, Erin Haskett, Rob LaBelle, Lindsay Macadam, and James Thorpe (Lost Girl). Showrunner is James Thorpe. Daniel Cerone wrote the pilot. Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

Read about CTV’s fall schedule here.

Related Articles

TV Series News

NETWORK

Alert: Missing Persons Unit (FOX / CTV) has been cancelled after 3 seasons.

The Cleaning Lady (FOX / CTV) has been cancelled after 4 seasons.

All American (The CW / Showcase) has beeen renewed for an 8th and Final Season.

Scrabble & Trivial Pursuit (The CW) have been renewed for a Second season.

SPECIALTY

The Chi (Showtime / Crave) has been renewed for an Eighth season.

Yellowjackets (Showtime / Crave) has been renewed for a Fourth season.

Dexter: Resurrection (Showtime / Paramount+ Canada) Premieres July 11, 2025.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FXX / FXX Canada) Season 17 Premieres July 9, 2025.

The Gilded Age (HBO / HBO Canada) Season 3 Premieres June 22, 2025.

STREAMING

Bad Thoughts (Netflix) has been renewed for a Second season.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) has been renewed for a Fifth and Final season.

The Diplomat (Netflix) Season 3 Premieres Fall 2025.

SkyMed (Paramount+ / CBC) has been renewed for a Fourth season; it will air exclusively on Paramount+.

Slow Horses (Apple TV+) Season 5 Premieres September 24, 2025.

Harry Wild (Acorn TV) has been renewed for a Fifth season.

Laid (Peacock / W Network) has been cancelled after 1 season.

The Morning Show (Apple TV+) Season 4 Premieres September 17, 2025.

The Terminal List (Amazon Prime Video) Season 2 Premieres August 27, 2025.

Hacks (Max / Crave) has been renewed for a Fifth season.

The Wheel of Time (Amazon Prime Video) has been cancelled after 3 seasons.

Women in Blue (Apple TV+) has been renewed for a Second season.

Platonic (Apple TV+) Season 2 Premieres August 6, 2025.

The Bondsman (Amazon Prime Video) has been cancelled after 1 season.

Lupin (Netflix) has been renewed for a Fourth Season.

My Life with the Walter Boys (Netflix) has been renewed for a Third season.

Survival of the Thickest (Netflix) has been renewed for a Third and Final season.

The Diplomat (Netflix) has been renewed for a Fourth season.

Forever (Netflix) has been renewed for a Second season.

The Four Seasons (Netflix) has been renewed for a Second season.

Bridgerton (Netflix) has been renewed for 5th & 6th seasons.

The Bear (FX on Hulu / Disney+ Canada) Season 4 Premieres June 25, 2025.

Peacemaker (Max / Crave) Season 2 Premieres August 21, 2025.

Foundation (Apple TV+) Season 3 Premieres July 11, 2025.

Acapulco (Apple TV+) 4th and Final Season Premieres July 23, 2025.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime Video) 3rd and Final season Premieres July 16, 2025.

Wednesday (Netflix) Season 2, Part 1 Premieres August 6, 2025; Part 2 Premieres September 3, 2025.

The Sandman (Netflix) Season 2, Part 1 Premieres July 3, 2025; Season 2, Part 2 Premieres July 24, 2025.

The Buccaneers (Apple TV+) Season 2 Premieres June 18, 2025.

What's On?

What’s On? June 15 - 28:

SERIES PREMIERE
Countdown
Hell Motel
Inside
Ironheart
Long Bright River
Smoke
We Were Liars
The Veil
The Waterfront

SEASON PREMIERE
The Bear
The Buccaneers
The Chosen
The Gilded Age

SEASON FINALE
Adults
Leverage: Redemption
Scrublands
Sullivan's Crossing
The Walking Dead: Dead City

Latest Articles