Elysia Ferreira
Bell Media
Etalk – The Social – Bell Let’s Talk – CTV Your Morning – The Good Stuff With Mary Berg
Production Begins on Season 2 of Acclaimed CTV Original Series TRANSPLANT
– Ensemble cast led by Hamza Haq (My Salinger Year) returns, with Laurence Leboeuf (19-2), John Hannah (MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.), Ayisha Issa (Polar), and Jim Watson (DESIGNATED SURVIVOR) –
– Thirteen-episode second season filming in Montréal –
– Thirteen-episode second season filming in Montréal –
TORONTO (February 9, 2021) – CTV, in association with NBCUniversal International Studios and Sphere Media, today confirmed that production is underway on Season 2 of hit CTV Original drama series TRANSPLANT, which is also set to air on Noovo in a translated French version. Filming in Montréal, Season 2 consists of 13, one-hour episodes.
The first season of the critically acclaimed series saw TRANSPLANT become the most-watched Canadian series among total viewers, with an average audience of 1.4 million. Ranking in the Top 20 overall and in the key A25-54 demo, TRANSPLANT experienced growth during its first season, with the finale watched by 1.7 million Canadians. Resonating with audiences across the country, TRANSPLANT was the biggest new Canadian drama since 2015.
“TRANSPLANT quickly became an incredible success story for CTV, as viewers across the country and around the world connected with the storylines and characters we created,” said Karine Moses, Senior Vice-President, Content Development & News, Bell Media. “Together with our production partners NBCUniversal International Studios and Sphere Media, we look forward to working with our exceptional cast and crew to deliver another unforgettable season.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to begin production on Season 2 of TRANSPLANT along with our great partners at CTV and NBCUniversal,” said Jocelyn Deschênes, Executive President of Sphere Media. “This show speaks to the hope, compassion, and resilience that we all so desperately need right now, and we’re so excited to be able to continue the story.”
TRANSPLANT continues the story of Dr. Bashir “Bash” Hamed (Hamza Haq), a talented doctor and Syrian refugee who fled to Canada with his younger sister, and earned a second chance to practice Emergency Medicine at York Memorial Hospital in Toronto.
Season 2 picks up almost immediately where Season 1 left off, with Bash and his fellow residents reeling after the hospital’s Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Jed Bishop (John Hannah), suffered a possible stroke. With life at the hospital destabilized, the place Bash was starting to consider home suddenly feels precarious. As the team at York Memorial welcomes new colleagues while managing the challenges of family life, unexpected faces from the past leave Bash seriously doubting whether or not his ‘transplant’ into this new world was successful. Bash’s hard work, compassion, and hopefulness tell a universal story about the human ability to not only survive, but ultimately thrive, within new circumstances.
Returning cast starring alongside Hamza Haq (My Salinger Year) are Laurence Leboeuf (19-2) as Dr. Magalie “Mags” Leblanc; John Hannah (MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Dr. Jed Bishop; Ayisha Issa (Polar) as Dr. June Curtis; and Jim Watson (DESIGNATED SURVIVOR) as Dr. Theo Hunter. Also back for Season 2 are Sirena Gulamgaus (ORPHAN BLACK) as Amira Hamed; Torri Higginson (DARK MATTER, THIS LIFE) as Claire Malone; Linda Smith (19-2) as Dr. Wendy Atwater; Kenny Wong (PRETTY HARD CASES) as Arnold De Luca; and Sugith Varughese (Kim’s Convenience) as Dr. Aajay Singh.
Writers on Season 2 of TRANSPLANT include Joseph Kay, who is also Executive Producer and Showrunner, Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern, Adam Barken (EP), Rachel Langer, Julie Puckrin, Tamara Moulin, Anusree Roy, Sami Khan, and Carmine Pierre Dufour. Directors are Stefan Pleszczynski, who also serves as Executive Producer, Daniel Grou (PODZ), Chloé Robichaud, Bosedé Williams, and Kim Nguyen.
Cultural consultants on Season 2 of TRANSPLANT, providing valuable insight and feedback on scripts and character development, include Dr. Khaled Almilaji, Ahmad Meree, Manar Chabouk, Dr. Yusra Ahmad, and Muzna Dureid.
Developed at CTV, TRANSPLANT is produced by Sphere Media in association with CTV and NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. All distribution rights are handled by NBCUniversal Global Distribution, with the series airing on NBC in the U.S. The series is produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Bell Fund, and the IPF’s Cogeco Television Production Fund, as well as SODEC.
TRANSPLANT is created by Joseph Kay who also serves as Executive Producer and Showrunner. For Sphere Media, Executive Producers are Bruno Dubé, Jocelyn Deschênes, Virginia Rankin, Josée Vallée, and Tara Woodbury. For NBCUniversal International Studios, Kelsey Balance is SVP, Scripted Programming.
For CTV, Michele McMahon is Production Executive; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming. Justin Stockman is Vice-President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. Karine Moses is Senior Vice-President, Content Development & News, Bell Media.
Source: Numeris, 2019-20 Broadcast Season (Sept. 23, 2019 – May 24, 2020), final data.
Social Media
- @CTV_PR
- @TheLede_CA
- @CTV
- @TransplantCTV
- @RealLaurenceLe
- @JohnHannah
- @Ayisha_Issa
- @realjimwatson
- @torri_higginson
- @kennycwong
- @SugithVarughese
- @CTV_PR
- @TheLede_CA
- @CTV
- @TransplantCTV
- Hamza Haq: @hmzlhq
- Laurence Leboeuf: @lorleb
- John Hannah: @iamjohnhannah
- Ayisha Issa: @Ayisha_Issa
- Jim Watson: @realjimwatson
- Sirena Gulamgaus: @sirenagulamgaus
- Torri Higginson: @satorri111
- Kenny Wong: @therealkennywong
- Sugith Varughese: @sugithvarughese
- Facebook.com/CTV
- Facebook.com/TransplantCTV
About Sphere Media
Sphere Media, a leader in the field of creation, adaptation, production and distribution, produces high-quality content in multiple genres, ranging from documentaries to feature films, as well as television series, game shows, magazine programs, variety shows, 2D animation, and digital projects for Canadian and international markets.
The scripted team at Sphere Media are industry leaders in the output of quality productions that include current, daring and original content. Sphere Media achieved accolades for the ground-breaking police drama 19-2 (Bravo/CTV), winning Best Dramatic Series at the Canadian Screen Awards, and an International EMMY nomination for Best Drama. Cutthroat crime drama Bad Blood (CityTV/Netflix), and heartbreaking family drama This Life (CBC) were also multiple Canadian Screen Award nominees. Most recently, Sphere Media’s bold new medical drama, Transplant (CTV/NBCU), an award-winning series about a Syrian refugee doctor, aired to critical acclaim and ratings success on both CTV and NBC and has been ordered for a second season. For Transplant, Sphere Media won TBI’s 2020 Content Innovation Award for Best Debut Drama Series and was also recently announced as an honoree by the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) for their annual Media Awards.
About NBCUniversal International Studios
NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, delivers award-winning content to millions across the globe. Based in London, the business’ in-house production labels include Carnival Films, creator of worldwide phenomenon Downton Abbey, The Last Kingdom and hit drama Belgravia; Monkey Kingdom, producer of BAFTA-winning Made In Chelsea, The Real Housewives of Cheshire and Jersey, UK and hip hop comedy show Don’t Hate the Playaz; Australian-based Matchbox Pictures, producer of critically acclaimed series The Slap, Safe Harbour, Stateless and upcoming dramas Clickbait and Things I Know To Be True; and Working Title Television, producer of Tales of the City, The Luminaries, upcoming comedy We Are Lady Parts and The Black T-Shirt Collection, the first television project by Inua Ellams. NBCUniversal International Studios also operates a joint production venture with Heyday Television (The Long Song, The Capture, Clickbait) and owns an equity stake in Lark Productions (The Glass Hotel, Fortunate Son) in Canada. Additionally, the studio houses a UK and LA-based scripted unit that develops and produces original series such as the Emmy-nominated television adaptation Hanna.
About Bell Media Original Programming
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include #1 Canadian drama TRANSPLANT; record-breaking Canadian formats THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and MASTERCHEF CANADA; #1 Canadian comedy series in all key adult demos JANN; culinary series MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH; inspirational lifestyle series HOLMES FAMILY EFFECT starring Mike Holmes, his son Michael, and daughter Sherry; and CANADA’S WALK OF FAME AWARDS. Upcoming new series include CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING from the producers of LETTERKENNY. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are CTV Sci-Fi Channel’s WYNONNA EARP and upcoming THE SURREALTOR; CTV Drama Channel’s mystery dramedy CARTER; and CTV Comedy Channel’s CORNER GAS ANIMATED. Crave Originals include hits LETTERKENNY and CANADA’S DRAG RACE; dozens of original stand-up specials; original feature documentaries THE NEW CORPORATION: THE UNFORTUNATELY NECESSARY SEQUEL and ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND, and more. Discovery is home to Bell Media’s hit factual series and franchises HIGHWAY THRU HELL, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, and DISASTERS AT SEA, in addition to upcoming docu-series MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS and THE LAST OF THE GIANTS, and others. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.
About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 television brand. CTV provides unparalleled entertainment programming across two broadcast television networks; a powerful suite of specialty channels including CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, and CTV Sci-Fi Channel; and digital channels CTV Throwback and CTV Movies, streaming on demand from CTV.ca and the CTV app. CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 19 years in a row and features a wide range of sports and information programming, including CTV News, Canada’s highest-rated national and local newscasts. CTV’s parent company is Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and out-of-home advertising.
Get the latest announcements from Bell Media
Subscribe to our media lists to receive official press releases and alerts from Bell Media PR.