The Murdoch Mysteries universe is expanding with the new tween spinoff series Macy Murdoch for CBC Gem.

Commissioned by CBC Gem and produced by Shaftesbury, the 8 x 11-minute series is currently in production in Toronto for 11 days. The producers are Alex House and Davin Lengyel of Shaftesbury, while the executive producers include Shaftesbury chairman and president Christina Jennings as well as Scott Garvie, Jennifer McCann, and Jennifer Kassabian. Robina Lord-Stafford is co-executive producer.

The series was recently announced as a recipient of production and audience development funding from the Bell Fund.

The spinoff of CBC and Shaftesbury’s long-running drama is directed by Laurie Lynd (Killing Patient Zero) and was initially developed by JP Larocque (Sort Of, Coroner) and Jessica Meya (Children Ruin Everything). The writing team includes Kassabian, Lord-Stafford, Larocque, Meya, Jay Vaidya, and Taf Diallo. It is slated for release on CBC Gem in the spring of 2023.

Macy Murdoch follows Detective William Murdoch’s time-travelling great-great-great-granddaughter as she unravels a century-old mystery. It stars Canadian Screen Award-winner Shailyn Pierre-Dixon (pictured; Pretty Hard Cases), Beau Han Bridge, Raffa Virago, Shanice Banton and Lachlan Murdoch, with a special guest appearance by Spencer West.

Jennings said in a statement that “Macy Murdoch is as much about time travel and solving a 112-year-old mystery, as it is about searching for identity and belonging.”

Marie McCann, senior director of CBC Kids’ children’s content, added that the series will engage young viewers on CBC Gem with “fresh, relatable teen characters and an all-new mystery set in the hit Murdoch Mysteries universe.”

CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries, which is based on the novels by Maureen Jennings, has 15 seasons and three two-hour specials. It has received numerous accolades during its run, including a nomination for the Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards in March, and is available to watch in over 120 countries worldwide.

Image courtesy of CBC