Montreal: Production on the Muse Entertainment drama series University, filming on location in Montreal, has been suspended. Four of 13 episodes had been completed when Muse announced last week U.S. broadcaster Hallmark Network (formerly Odyssey) had pulled out of the project.

A spokesperson for the Montreal production company said Hallmark’s decision to withdraw came as a complete surprise. It was not known at press time if and when the show would be refinanced.

University is scripted by Bruce M. Smith (The Sleep Room) and stars Canadian actor R.H. Thomson in the role of Harry Copeland, a Montreal university ethics professor with a controversial past.

Smith, University’s executive coproducer with Muse’s Michael Prupas, says the show concept aims ‘to explore how we apply learning to real life.’

Directors include John L’Ecuyer, who shot the pilot, George Mihalka and Mario Azzopardi. Producers are Stewart Harding and Irene Litinsky. Hallmark had also picked up international rights on the $12-million STCVQ/DGC shoot.

In other news from the company, Muse and producer Wendy Hill-Tout of Calgary’s Voice Pictures are prepping for an early fall shoot on The Investigation, a CTV MOW developed by Toronto producer Bernie Zukerman, with Anne Wheeler directing.

Muse also reports CBC has licensed the 13-hour, live-action family fantasy The Neverending Story. *