BANFF – CBC TV has greenlit a $9 million movie of the week about cowboy Sam Steele that is currently at the script stage.
Tentatively called The Life of Sam Steele, executive producer Chris Knight said that he was eager to get ahead with the story of “an iconic Canadian,” who was once a Mountie on the Prairies and farther North.
The cast is not complete, but Knight is hoping that Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland will take the lead.
The film will shoot in Alberta, which is putting in some of the money, as is the Canadian Media Fund, tax credits, CBC and licence fees.
Knight hopes to start shooting this Fall to air during Fall 2011 on the public broadcaster.
Knight, of Ottawa-based Knight Enterprises, and Allan Magee are executive co-producers, and Toronto-based Noel Baker is the writer. Alberta partners include Nancy Laing of Earth to Sky Productions.
– Norma Reveler
