A chess grandmaster becomes a master detective in Showcase’s new original drama Endgame. Premiering Monday, March 14th at 10pm ET/PT, Endgame stars Shawn Doyle (Big Love, Lost), as the former World Chess Champion Arkady Balagan. After witnessing the murder of his fiancée, Balagan develops a debilitating case of agoraphobia. Unable to leave his hotel and running out of money, the arrogant and charismatic Russian inadvertently becomes a detective – using his fierce analytical skills to solve the crimes that baffle others.
Balagan relies on friends and hotel employees to do his legwork; from conducting interviews and trailing suspects to bringing back clues. Balagan then uses his strategic thinking to stage imaginative, and often amusing, reenactments in his own mind-until he finds the solution.
“Endgame is a truly exceptional addition to the Showcase schedule. The series is loaded with clever writing, breathtaking cinematography and has an enviable cast, anchored by a dynamite performance by Shawn Doyle,” said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media.
“In season one, Balagan makes a family for himself in the hotel, people dedicated to helping him solve crimes,” said Avrum Jacobson, Creator and Executive Producer. “Our cast and crew have pulled together to work in a similar way. They love this show – they believe in it. It’s unique, fun, smart and thoroughly entertaining. ”
The all-star Endgame cast includes Patrick Gallagher (Glee, True Blood), as defiant hotel security manager, Hugo, who seeks to trip Balagan up at every opportunity. Acting as Balagan’s “pawns”, his friends who venture into the outside world on his behalf, are: adoring fan and chess fanatic Sam (Torrance Coombs; The Tudors, jPod), beautiful hotel bartender Danni (Katharine Isabelle; Supernatural, The L Word), the sister of Balagan’s dead fiancée, Pippa (Melanie Papalia; The Assistants, Intelligence) and perceptive housekeeper Alcina (Carmen Aguirre; Da Vinci’s Inquest, The L Word).
Endgame was created by Avrum Jacobson (ReGenesis, Republic of Doyle) and directed by Producer/Director David Frazee (Flashpoint, Da Vinci’s Inquest) and Anne Wheeler, James Head, Rachel Talalay and Charles Binamé. Executive Producers of Endgame include Michael Shepard (Zigby, Mayerthorpe), Tim Gamble (Zixx: Level Three, In Her Mother’s Footsteps) and Harvey Kahn (Beyond Sherwood Forest, The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon).
Filmed exclusively in Vancouver, BC, Endgame is developed and produced by Thunderbird Films in association with Front Street Pictures and Shaw Media with participation of the Canadian Media Fund.
