CBC commissions Montreal soccer drama

TORONTO — CBC-TV has commissioned a new original soccer drama called 21 Thunder.

The public broadcaster says the eightepisode series, from PMA Productions and Generic Productions, will feature a team at an under-21 soccer academy in Montreal.

The cast includes Stephanie Bennett as an Olympic soccer hero who’s forced to help coach the team for PR reasons.

The head coach is played by Conrad Pla.

Former Scottish footballer Ryan Pierce (a.k.a. Ryan O’Leary) plays an international soccer superstar.

RJ Fetherstonhaugh plays a striker and former gang-member. Emmanuel Kabongo plays a talented new midfielder and Andres Joseph plays the team captain.

Production is underway in Montreal with the series première set for summer 2017 on CBC.

“This riveting drama will offer audiences a fresh and diverse perspective on the world’s most popular sport, and what it takes to play ‘the beautiful game’ at the pro level,” Sally Catto, general manager of programming at CBC Television, said in a statement.

Executive producers Malcolm MacRury and Kenneth Hirsch said it will “appeal to viewers across all platforms, and attract the attention of new audiences eager for gripping, serialized dramas featuring the stories of millennials with big dreams.”