Canwest has ordered a pilot for the one-hour The Dealership, giving the green light to producers Virginia Thompson and Robert de Lint (Corner Gas) and Jeff Beesley (Borderline Normal). The project, to be showrun by Andrew Wreggitt (Mayerthorpe, Shades of Black), is billed as a comedic drama about a family-run used car lot stricken by such topical problems as the credit crunch and the world’s economic woes.

Wreggitt’s script ‘is simply one of the most original we have seen,’ says Canwest’s drama and factual SVP Christine Shipton. ‘Adding to that, the team of Virginia, Robert and Jeff? It was a very easy call for us and we cannot wait to get started.’

Cast and crew for the Vérité Films show are expected to be announced shortly.