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Axed: Trickster

Canadian drama crumbles after a scandal surrounding the heritage of its creator / director.

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Indigenous Canadian drama Trickster, which had been renewed for a second season, has now been cancelled after co-creator / director Michelle Latimer became embroiled in a controversy over her claimed ancestry.

In December Canadian broadcaster CBC aired a bombshell investigation, disputing Latimer’s claims that she is of Algonquin, Metis, and French heritage, from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Maniwaki area in Quebec.

Two producers then quit in protest with Latimer eventually resigned from the show and apologising.

“We have had many conversations over the last few weeks with a view to continuing production on a second season of Trickster,” CBC said in a statement. “Those conversations included producers, writers, actors, and the author of the books on which Trickster is based. Fully respecting everyone’s perspective, season two will not move forward as planned unfortunately.”

“I was not involved in the decision that was announced today and am sad to hear that Season 2 has been cancelled,” Latimer said. “I am incredibly proud of the entire team that worked so hard to bring Trickster to life, and I will forever be grateful to the cast and crew that poured their hearts and souls into its creation.”

Canada’s National Film Board also withdrew the director’s acclaimed documentary Inconvenient Indian from distribution and film festival premieres, including the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

Trickster debuted in Australia on NITV in October.

Source: Deadline, Globe & Mail

5 Responses

  1. No..it was drawing in the 180,000 to 300,000 range.Was also on the cw network.Only cbc show(cbc being the canadian national broadcaster similar to our abc)that ever makes the weekly top 30 is murdoch mysteries and hockey games. assets.numeris.ca/Downloads/January%204-January%2010,%202021%20(National).pdf.I’ve given you a link to the latest weekly top 30 canadian programs from the en.numeris.ca ,free to everyone canadian tv and radio ratings website….thought you might be interested in how viewing tastes differ in the 2 countries.Seems drama and scripted might be more popular there whereas reality rules in australia.

      1. This “bombshell” seems like a perfect scapegoat to axe a low rated show without too much backlash. If they really wanted to keep the show especially for diversity and telling modern stories of their First Nations people, they would of made it a point in searching for a unique authentic voice. Now what, no representation sir? Shame.

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