After airing for two summers on ABC, the US network decided not to pick up the Motive TV show for a third season, effectively cancelling it for American viewers.
However, the series is produced in Canada and the CTV network renewed it for a third and fourth season anyway. The fourth season has just completed filming and will begin airing on March 22nd.
The fourth season cast includes Kristin Lehman, Louis Ferreira, Brendan Penny, and Lauren Holly. Guests will include Jon Heder, Will Sasso, and Tommy Flanagan.
It’s now been revealed that the police drama is ending and there won’t be a fifth season.
Here’s the press release:
Killer Ending: Final Season of CTV’s Hit Crime Drama MOTIVE Premieres March 22
– Season 4 of original Canadian drama wraps production today in Vancouver –
– Season 4 guest stars include Jon Heder, Will Sasso, and Tommy Flanagan –
– CraveTVTM First Look available March 21, the day before CTV’s broadcast premiere, with Seasons 1-3 streaming now –VANCOUVER (February 12, 2016) – CTV announced today that multiple Canadian Screen Award nominee MOTIVE is set to face its last round of investigations, as the series returns for its fourth and final season Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning March 22 on CTV and CTV GO, following a CraveTV First Look starting March 21. Wrapping production today in Vancouver, the final season brings the story of the series’ dynamic homicide team to a powerful conclusion as they continue to explore what drives the motive behind the murder in 13 unforgettable new episodes. MOTIVE was nominated last month for nine Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Dramatic Series.
In the final season, each member of the homicide team faces pivotal choices about their future, as they set on a course of deciding what they want their legacies to be. Canadian Screen Award nominee Kristin Lehman (THE KILLING) returns as Detective Angie Flynn, who leads the team through a season of big change and evolution: Detective Oscar Vega’s (Louis Ferreira, BREAKING BAD, SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE) new role as Staff Sergeant means adjustments for everyone; Angie and Detective Brian Lucas (Brendan Penny, THE ASSISTANTS) develop a deeper bond; Dr. Betty Rogers (Lauren Holly, NCIS), who is personally involved with Vega, must now mind the boundaries of her personal and professional relationship; and new detectives are introduced to the team.
Building on its roster of incredible guest stars throughout the series, Season 4 of MOTIVE continues to showcase a fantastic line up of seasoned actors with appearances from Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite); Will Sasso (SHAMELESS); and Tommy Flanagan (SONS OF ANARCHY), who guest stars in a recurring role as Interpol Agent Jack Stoker.
“We’re proud to have had the privilege of bringing this compelling and innovative crime format series to CTV audiences for the past three seasons.” Said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV.
“MOTIVE is primed to leave an indelible mark on the Canadian television industry and its creative family here at CTV,” said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. “Both clever and cinematic, each episode is exceptionally well-written with smart performances from its ensemble cast. Lark Productions, Foundation Features, and the series’ creative team led by showrunner Dennis Heaton have delivered a dynamic final season.”
“We are grateful to our broadcast partners at CTV for four incredible seasons of MOTIVE,” said Executive Producers Louise Clark and Rob Merilees. “Thanks to the exceptional talent and efforts of our writers, cast and production team, we are thrilled to conclude our finest season to date. Season 4 builds towards its conclusion with even more compelling performances and intriguing cases.”
MOTIVE also stars Victor Zinck Jr. (THE 100) and Karen LeBlanc (CRACKED), who join this season as new detectives on the series’ homicide team.
In the Season 4 premiere, entitled “The Vanishing Policeman” (Tuesday, March 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO), while Detective Angie Flynn (Kristin Lehman) and Staff Sergeant Vega (Louis Ferreira) adjust to his new role, the suicide of an officer with whom Angie and Detective Brian Lucas (Brendan Penny) worked on a crime scene turns the team’s investigation into a hunt for a cop killer.
CTV’s top Canadian Screen Awards nominee for two consecutive years, MOTIVE once again garnered nine nominations for the upcoming CSAs, including Best Dramatic Series and Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. Season 3 was watched by an average audience of 1.2 million viewers, a 15% increase over Season 1, landing the series among the Top 4 most-watched Canadian dramas last season. All past episodes of MOTIVE are streaming now on CraveTV™.
MOTIVE is produced by Lark Productions and Foundation Features in association with Bell Media. Executive Producers are Dennis Heaton (CALL ME FITZ, Fido), who also serves as the Season 4 showrunner; series creator Daniel Cerone (DEXTER, THE BLACKLIST); Louise Clark (CORNER GAS, HIGH MOON); Rob Merilees (Stone of Destiny, Brain on Fire); Erin Haskett (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER); Rob LaBelle (MENTAL); Lindsay Macadam (Brain on Fire); and Ben Brafman (PERSON OF INTEREST, DEFYING GRAVITY). The series is distributed internationally by NBCUniversal International.
For Bell Media, Michele McMahon and Kathleen Meek are Production Executives; Tom Hastings is Director, Drama, Independent Production; and Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, CTV Networks and CraveTV. Randy Lennox is President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting, Bell Media.
Source : Numeris Sep. 22, 2014 – Sep. 13, 2015, final data.
What do you think? Do you like the Motive TV show? Would you like to see the complete series air in the United States?
Look forward to watching this program each week. Someone pick it up, please!
Please keep this show alive american viewers. This is a smartly written show and superbly acted. We love it and hope it can un-cancelled in the USA. ~Phil
Noooooooooooooooooo! We finally get a great Canadian show and it gets cancelled? To be brutally honest I would never watch Canadian tv because it’s so bad, but Motive is different its actually really good. Just because ABC cancelled it CTV could have kept it.
Please don’t cancel this show. best crime drama on TV. Cast is truly talented and believeable. Look forward to watching it!
No No No, don’t cancel. It’s so good!
I love Motive!!!!
Great Canadian TV
Please say it isn’t so!!
I have enjoyed watching Motive throughout its four seasons. The concept and execution are terrific and I’m disappointed that the show will not be back for a fifth season. Please reconsider bringing the show back for another season or two or three!!
I loved this show brillant and exciting please bring it back characters are amazing How clever victim and killer it is tv that makes you think
Another great show bites the dust…..what are you thinking……please renew as this is a wonderful show….how about CBC picking it up
Please renew the Motive TV series for at lease the 5th and 6th seasons. It is one of the best detective shows on TV.
Why does Canadian TV cancel great series when the shows can go longer. No wonder we turn into US TV. We don’t have enough great shows up here. Again,
RENEW MOTIVE PLEASE!!
I was so thrilled to see that it was coming back on USA. I watched every episode from season 1 & 2 over again. How disappointed was I when I heard that a successful show on CTV was being cancelled. It was a hit, what gives?
We’ve been watchingredients Motive on USA. We’ve seen 8 episodes; will the last 4 be aired?
This was my favorite show. So sad. Great characters and great stories. WHY????? 🙁
I would love to see all seasons of Motive shown in the USA—please!
They have been airing it on USA NETWORK
Why would take off such a good show I love how they show the killer and victim up front and u see how it happen just a good show if a show good and people watch and u have great rating u take it off y