Regina: Minds Eye Entertainment is gearing up for production on The Tommy Douglas Story, a two-part miniseries for CBC about the life of the Saskatchewan political icon. The role was supposed to be played by Douglas’ real-life grandson, Kiefer Sutherland, but the 24 star passed. Casting will continue through early August.

Also in development at the Regina-based company is Tommy Douglas Online, an interactive edutainment website through Minds Eye Interactive, which will feature elements of the miniseries, historical and educational information, as well as interviews with Douglas’ daughter Shirley Douglas, who serves as a creative consultant producer on the miniseries.

Tommy Douglas, widely recognized as the father of socialized health care in Canada, served as Saskatchewan’s premier for 17 years before being elected leader of the federal NDP party at its founding convention in 1961. He served as NDP leader until 1971.

Principal photography on the four-hour mini will begin in Saskatchewan by the end of the summer, with plans to premier on CBC in the fall. The mini is written by Bruce Smith (The Investigation) and will be directed by John N. Smith (Random Passage), with Minds Eye president Kevin DeWalt executive producing. Funding comes from CBC and SaskFilm.

DeWalt is also overseeing development of the online property as executive producer, with Gail Bryanton producing and Denise Black managing the project. CBC and SaskFilm are on board as financial partners, and the project is slated for completion in 2005.

Minds Eye is also in development on Crude, a pilot MOW for A-Channel; a one-hour dramatic series called Damon for Space: The Imagination Station; and the animated children’s series Creepshow.

Creepshow, coproduced with Vancouver-based Radical Film and Television, is an animated half-hour series for children aged seven to 12 years, based on the horror movie classic of the same name. It is slated to air on YTV in fall 2005. The series is written by Rob King, Lousie Moon and Gary Fisher, with DeWalt and Chris Delaney executive producing. Development funding comes from B.C. Film and the Cogeco Program Development Fund.

Crude, coproduced with Edmonton’s Panacea Entertainment, is an A-Channel MOW pilot for a series about the DevCor oil company and the family that runs it. DeWalt and Josh Miller are the executive producers, and writers include Maureen McKeon, Alexandra Zarowny and Christie Jones. Additional funding comes from Telefilm Canada and Movie Central.

Damon is about 23-year-old Aidan, an anthropologist at the Saskatoon museum who is the only person in the world able to fight off a demon responsible for all the catastrophes that have befallen Earth in several millennia. DeWalt executive produces and Charles Lazer is writing. With additional funding from Telefilm, the series is slated to air on Space in fall 2005.