On 10 December 2020, CBC Television and BET+ announced that they would be partnering on the creation of a series about a group of railway workers who formed the first Black-led labour union.[9] The series from Inferno Picture and Sienna Films was created by Arnold Pinnock and Bruce Ramsay, with the participation of Annmarie Morais, Marsha Greene, Charles Officer and R.T. Thorne as producers, with Officer and Thorne also directing. The series is written by Morais, Greene, Andrew Burrows-Trotman, Priscilla White, Pinnock and Ramsay, with R.T. Thorne participating in the writers' room.[10][11] Filming took place primarily in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada between June and September 2021.[12]
Casting
In April 2021 CBC and BET+ announced the main cast was slated to include Aml Ameen, Ronnie Rowe Jr., Mouna Traoré.[10] In June Oluniké Adeliyi and Loren Lott joined the cast, with creators Arnold Pinnock and Bruce Ramsay also taking on series regular roles.[13][12] In July 2021, it was announced that Alfre Woodard would be joining the cast in a recurring role.[14]
Thorne stated that there was "so much incredible talent across this country" from which to cast for the series.[15]
Reception
The series has received positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, The Porter holds an approval rating of 100% with an average rating of 8.4 out of 10, based on 7 reviews.[6] A review in The Globe and Mail called the show "great TV...with compelling characters" and referred to it as "one sexy show".[16]
Despite interest from the CBC, The Porter was canceled after one season due to the BET Media Group pulling out of financing. According to executive producer Jennifer Kawaja "there was a lack of interest in 'the Canadian point of view.'”[18] While accepting the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award, Indigenous actor, director and producer Jennifer Podemski issued a call to the federal government “to increase permanent funding" for Indigenous Screen Office.[19]
