“This is what we were all hoping for”: Murder In A Small Town EP shares the role originally intended for Donald Sutherland before his death

Murder in a small town came to television in 2024 as a crime film with Rossif Sutherland and Kristin Kreuk. Although Sutherland made numerous television appearances before his Fox debut as Police Chief Karl Alberg, this show marks his first leading television role in the United States. According to executive producer Jeff Wachtel, the goal originally was for the star to work alongside his father, the late Donald Sutherland. Unfortunately, the film and television legend passed away before he could do so, but the EP sheds light on what could have been.

I spoke with Jeff Wachtel last week about the season one finale Murder in a small townamong other things, about hopes for the second season in the TV program in 2025 and a difficult situation when writing for Kristin Kreuk’s Cassandra. I noted to the EP that I didn’t know Rossif Sutherland too well before the Fox series, as most of his previous shows aired in Canada, and was impressed with his work as Alberg. Wachtel responded with a story about the “happy coincidence” that Donald Sutherland had been associated with an adaptation before his son:

It’s so nice of you to say that. I wasn’t (very familiar) either. It was the network’s idea and I was the network, so it’s nice to be able to give them credit. It was their casting department that said, “You should really look at this guy.” And then, of course, there was the happy coincidence that when the script was first developed thirty years ago, Donald Sutherland was hired to make it into a film make.

As it turns out, Rossif Sutherland’s father was originally involved in a film based on LR Wright’s books, decades before this TV show incarnation could have even been imagined. The revelation that the network had mentioned Rossif as a potential leading man also adds more context to what the star told us about his offer for the role of Alberg.

The film adaptation of LR Wright’s story never came to fruition, but years later Donald Sutherland’s son would finally get the chance to bring Karl Alberg to life on the small screen. And if his health had permitted, Donald Sutherland would have appeared opposite Rossif, as Jeff Wachtel continued:

When it came to my attention a few years ago, Donald was hired to play George Wilcox in the first episode. We were all hoping for that. His health didn’t allow it. When Rossif got the lead role, it only made him want to do it more. They were very close but unfortunately that didn’t happen. But it was fun to at least acknowledge Donald’s presence in the project.

As it turns out, Donald Sutherland would have played George Wilcox, the key figure in the super-sized series’ premiere that Alberg and Cassandra had to investigate. (You can stream the premiere now with a Hulu subscription.) James Cromwell would ultimately play Wilcox, and that Murder in a small team went out of its way in this first episode to honor Sutherland by airing this card at the very end:

Murder in a Small Town, Dedicated to Donald Sutherland

(Image credit: Fox)

While we will never know what Donald Sutherland would have brought to the role of George Wilcox had he played the role as intended, James Cromwell was a big name and a talented actor who could play the role in his place. I’m glad about that Murder in a small town however, was able to add this dedication to honor the role that Sutherland, as well as Rossif Sutherland, may have played in the loss of his father. The show premiered several months after the elder Sutherland’s death at age 88.

For more on Donald Sutherland, check out our list of his best films and how to watch them. As for his son, you can find Rossif Sutherland’s complete first season here Murder in a small town Stream now on Hulu.

“This is what we were all hoping for”: Murder In A Small Town EP shares the role originally intended for Donald Sutherland before his death

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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