Hudson & Rex


Hudson & Rex is a Canadian police procedural drama television series, based on the Italian-Austrian drama Komissar Rex, which premiered on Citytv on March 25, 2019. Filming commenced in October 2018, with ongoing production in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
On May 30, 2019, Shaftesbury and Pope Productions announced Citytv had renewed for season two, and was scheduled for the 2019-2020 season. Season 2 premiered on September 24, 2019.
In June 2020, it was announced on Breakfast Television that season 3 will begin production sometime in July, ensuring to work within provincial public health guidelines in respect to COVID-19.

Premise

Detective Charlie Hudson is a Major Crimes detective of the fictional St. John’s Police Department. He is partnered with Rex, a multi-scent trained German Shepherd with an excellent ear for unique sounds. Hudson grew up reading mystery novels and as a result always wanted to be a police detective. He is partnered with Rex after Rex's K9 human partner died and Rex was scheduled to be euthanized. Rex's keen nose and ears are instrumental in helping Detective Hudson advance the investigations in each episode. The duo receive assistance from Superintendent Donovan, Forensics Chief Truong, and IT Specialist Mills every episode in gathering and interpreting evidence. The first season begins some time after Hudson has arrived back in St. John's, his hometown, following a divorce from his wife. The first case for the series is a kidnapping. Most of the episodes case different murders, each with unique twists.

Cast

Seasons 1 and 2 combined have a total of 32 episodes according to distributor Beta. Season 1 filmed a total of 16 episodes but the last three episodes of season 1 became the first three episodes of season 2. Season 2 also filmed 16 episodes. This unusual result means there are 19 episodes to be shown as season 2.

Season 1 (2019)

Season 2 (2019–20)

Reception

Canadian ratings

The first six episodes of season one reached more than 2.5 million viewers in Canada.

Broadcast

Hudson & Rex premiered March 25, 2019, on CityTV with season one planned for 16 episodes. However, only the first 13 episodes were used for season one. The remaining three episodes were broadcast as part of season two.

Syndication

Beta Film has the international English distribution rights for Hudson & Rex. Broadcaster RAI will begin showing episodes in Italy on Rai 3. Beta Film also secured deals in the Netherlands with CLT UFA, in Germany with TNT Serie and Latin America with the Belleville Group. Other distributions are in France with France Televisions via Mediawan Rights, in Lithuania with LRT, in Latvia with LTV, in Puerto Rico with Telemundo, and in Uruguay with Channel 12.
NBC Universal secured rights for Eastern Europe and Africa. As of July 2020, the show is being broadcast in the Czech Republic on Televize Prima.

Production

Casting

Diesel vom Burgimwald is a 15th descendant from the shepherd who starred in the 1990s Austrian show Inspector Rex that Hudson & Rex is based on. Two other German Shepherds, Izzy and Iko, who are nephews of Diesel vom Burgimwald, stand-in for some of the stunts. Diesel vom Burgimwald had mobility training before being cast as Rex. This is Diesel's first show according to his owner/handler Sherri Davis and training continues on non-shooting days in preparation for future scripts. While on set Diesel has full star treatment with his own trailer, chef, and chauffeur. Diesel is an honorary firefighter with the St. John's Regional Fire Department as a result of the episode Fast Eddie's.

Filming

Hudson and Rex films at various locations across the City of St. John's, most prominently on the Memorial University of Newfoundland campus. The Bruneau Centre doubles as the headquarters for the fictional St. John's Police Department, whilst the rest of the campus has been used to portray the equally fictional Heritage University of Newfoundland and Labrador.