First Generation Films (FGF) has revealed more details about the key creatives and cast behind its upcoming limited family drama Essex County, which is based on the graphic novel by Canadian comic book writer Jeff Lemire and will land at next week’s MIPCOM.

Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Secret Path) is the series showrunner, executive producer and writer, while Eilis Kirwan (The Whistleblower, Nurses) serves as an EP and writer, according to a news release issued on Thursday (Oct. 13).

Emmy winner Andrew Cividino (Schitt’s Creek, Sleeping Giant) directs the 5 x 60-minute series, which wrapped production Sept. 30 in North Bay, Ont., and is set to premiere in Canada on CBC and CBC Gem in winter 2023. Leading international distributor ITV Studios and Media Musketeers Studios will launch the show internationally to buyers at MIPCOM, which runs Oct. 17 to 20 in Cannes, France.

Executive producer and FGF CEO Christina Piovesan has announced that Molly Parker, Brian J. Smith, Stephen McHattie, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong (pictured) and Kevin Durand lead the cast.

Essex County is a generational tale about the intertwining lives of two families and the isolation and loneliness they face in rural Ontario.

The series has been in development since 2015 and was announced as part of CBC’s 2022-23 programming slate in the summer. Sally Catto, general manager of entertainment, factual and sports at CBC, told Playback Daily at the time that the series is “a labour of love for all” involved and “a personal story” for Lemire.

Lemire has written and co-created a slew of graphic novels and comics, and worked extensively for both Marvel and DC Comics. His other books in development for adaptations include Descender at NBCUniversal, with Lemire attached as an executive producer. Sweet Tooth was adapted into a Netflix original series produced by Susan and Robert Downey Jr.