Lifetime has found great success exploring the cutthroat behind-the-scenes world of reality television in “UnREAL,” and now the network is tapping into more controversial subject matter — euthanasia. Variety reports that Lifetime has greenlit “Mary Kills People,” a dark comedy series created by Tara Armstrong (“Private Eyes”) starring “Hannibal” alum Caroline Dhavernas, who also toplined the short-lived cult classic “Wonder Falls.”
“Mary Kills People” marks the network’s first scripted series since Peabody and Critics Choice winner “UnREAL” put Lifetime on the map in a whole new way. The Emmy-nominated drama stars Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer, and was created by Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro.
According to Variety, “Mary Kills People” centers on “Mary Harris (Dhavernas), a single mother who is an ER doctor by day, but by night, she and her partner, a former plastic surgeon, moonlight as underground angels of death and help terminally ill patients slip away on their own terms — so far, Mary has managed to stay under the radar, but death is hot, business is booming, and her double life is getting complicated.” Rather than step away from her complicated, illegal side project, Mary dives in headfirst: “When her world starts to unravel, Mary realizes she’s going to have to fight dirty if she’s going to stay in the killing game.”
The first season will consist of six hourlong episodes, and is slated to premiere in 2017 along with the third season of “UnREAL.” All six episodes of “Mary Kills People’s” first season will be helmed by Holly Dale (“Quantico,” “Chicago Fire,” “Dexter”), who will also serve as co-executive producer. (So you’ll definitely find “Mary Kills People” on the DGA’s Diversity Report next year on the “Best Of” list.)
Tassie Cameron, the creator of “Rookie Blue,” will executive produce, as well as Armstrong, Amy Cameron, Jocelyn Hamilton, and Tecca Crosby. The writing team will be composed of Armstrong, Marsha Greene (“Remedy”), Sherry White (“Orphan Black”), and Mike Goldbach (“Daydream Nation”).
Dhavernas’ co-stars include Charlotte Sullivan (“Rookie Blue”), Jay Ryan (“Top of the Lake”), and Lyriq Bent (“The Book of Negroes”).
“As ‘UnREAL’ drives Lifetime’s position as a destination for some of the strongest female characters on television, we are thrilled to add to our growing scripted lineup ‘Mary Kills People,’ a unique, rich drama with elements of humor and a fascinatingly complex protagonist that we are thrilled to feature on our network,” said Liz Gateley, Lifetime’s executive vice president and head of programming.
Deadline writes that Lifetime “also has come on board as a co-producer of ‘Mary Kills People,’ joining Entertainment One and Cameron Pictures as well as their Canadian broadcast and production partner Corus Entertainment.”
“With a creative team led by the incomparable Tassie Cameron, Tara Armstrong’s richly layered writing, Holly Dale’s expert direction, and an outstanding cast, ‘Mary Kills People’ will be an intense and thought-provoking series,” added John Morayniss, CEO of eOne Television. “Lifetime is undoubtedly the perfect home for this topical and ground-breaking drama.”
