Wynonna Earp | |
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Genre | |
Created by | Emily Andras |
Based on | Wynonna Earp by Beau Smith |
Starring | |
Opening theme | "Tell That Devil" by Jill Andrews |
Composers |
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Country of origin |
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Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 49 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Production locations | Alberta, Canada |
Running time | 43 minutes |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network |
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Release | April 1, 2016 April 9, 2021 | –
Wynonna Earp (/waɪˈnoʊnə ˈɜːrp/ wy-NOH-nə URP) is a Western horror television series. Developed by Emily Andras,[1][2] the Canadian-American program is based on the comic book series by Beau Smith.[3][4] Melanie Scrofano plays the titular character, the great-great-granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp.[5] In the series, Wynonna returns to her hometown of Purgatory, near the Canadian Rockies, where she battles revenants, the reincarnated outlaws that Wyatt killed.
Syfy acquired United States rights for Wynonna Earp and ordered a 13-episode season in 2015, premiering it on April 1, 2016.[6][7] The series premiered in Canada on CHCH-DT on April 4.[8][9][a] Viacom International Media Networks acquired the rights to broadcast Wynonna Earp on its multinational Spike channels in July 2016.[11][12] Three seasons have since aired and filming for a fourth season began in 2020 before being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Season 4 premiered on Syfy and CTV Sci-Fi Channel on July 26, 2020.[14][15] On February 5, 2021, Syfy announced that the fourth season would be the last, with the remaining episodes starting on March 5, 2021.[16][17] The series, however, was not officially cancelled by CTV Sci-Fi Channel.[18] In February 2024, it was announced that Tubi had commissioned a one-off special titled Wynonna Earp: Vengeance that is set to premiere in late 2024 with cast members Scrofano, Rozon, Chalkley and Barrell confirmed to reprise their respective roles.[19]
Critical response to the series was positive. E! Entertainment Television named Wynonna Earp the "Best New Show" of 2016.[20] It was chosen by Variety as one of the 20 best new series of 2016.[21] In its annual "Best of TV" highlight, Collider named Wynonna Earp the "Best New Sci-Fi" show of 2016.[22] Maureen Ryan of Variety named Wynonna Earp one of the best television shows of 2017.[23]
On her 27th birthday, Wynonna Earp, the great-great-granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp, inherits the special power to return revenants, the reincarnated outlaws that Wyatt had killed, back to Hell. Using her ancestor's magic gun, "Peacemaker," Wynonna works to break her family's curse by sending demons back where they belong. She also fights other supernatural beings that inhabit the Ghost River Triangle, a cursed territory near the Canadian Rockies that includes Purgatory, her hometown. After being recruited by the Black Badge Division (BBD), a secret government agency led by Special Agent Xavier Dolls, she is joined by an ageless Doc Holliday and Wynonna's sister, Waverly Earp. Nicole Haught, a Purgatory Sheriff's Deputy and Waverly's girlfriend, assists the team in her local police role.
The first season centers on Wynonna fighting the revenants who kidnapped her older sister Willa from their homestead when they were girls, and the threat posed by Bobo Del Rey, leader of the local revenants. In the second season, Wynonna discovers she is pregnant, while Waverly struggles with possession by a demon and doubts about her lineage. At the same time, two sister-wife widows of the dead sheriff who cursed Wyatt Earp seek to resurrect him. In the third season, the demon Clootie is resurrected and, as he seeks to find the entrance to the Garden of Eden, the team must work to stop him and prevent the resulting apocalypse. In the fourth season, Wynonna and Nicole must figure out a way to rescue Doc and Waverly, with the help of a new friend. Once rescued, Wynonna, Doc and Waverly return to find out that they have been gone longer than expected. While Waverly tries to help Nicole get past the trauma of their time apart, Wynonna searches for Peacemaker.
Main article: List of Wynonna Earp episodes |
Episodes of season 1 featured Dylan Koroll as Champ Hardy, Waverly's boyfriend before she met Officer Nicole Haught; Natascha Girgis as Gus McCready, aunt of the Earp girls; and David LeReaney as Judge Cryderman, an antagonist of Wynonna Earp. In season 1 Rachael Ancheril appeared as Mattie Perley, a witch known as The Blacksmith, who provided assistance to the Earps; in season 2 Ancheril appeared as Gretta Perley, also known as The Iron Witch, who was seeking revenge against the Earps whom she blames for the death of her twin sister Mattie.
Syfy acquired the U.S. rights to Wynonna Earp from SEVEN24 Films and IDW Entertainment in July 2015 and placed an order for 13 episodes.[3] International distribution of the series was acquired by Dynamic Television in September 2015.[24] On September 30, 2015, SEVEN24 Films announced the acquisition of Canadian broadcast rights by over-the-air independent station CHCH-DT.[10] CHCH procured the funding to broadcast Season 1 from global content investment and rights management company Motion Content Group.[25][26][27]
Melanie Scrofano was cast in the title role,[28][29] with Tim Rozon as Doc Holliday and Shamier Anderson as Agent Dolls.[28] Dominique Provost-Chalkley was cast as Waverly Earp.[30] In recurring roles, Michael Eklund was cast as villain Bobo Del Rey[31] and Katherine Barrell as Officer Nicole Haught.[32]
"Tell That Devil" by singer-songwriter Jill Andrews was selected as the theme music for the series.[33] The titles of Wynonna Earp episodes are based on country-and-western songs.[34][35]
Viacom International Media Networks acquired the rights to broadcast Wynonna Earp on its multinational Spike channels in July 2016.[11][12] In March 2017, Bell Media announced the new partnership between Space and SEVEN24 Films as Canadian co-producers of the series.[4] In 2019, Cineflix Studios joined the series as a co-producer and Cineflix Rights became the international rights agent for all seasons of Wynonna Earp.[36][37] Later that year, in September, Space Channel became the CTV Sci-Fi Channel.[38]
Filming of Season 1 took place from September 14, 2015, to February 12, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta.[39][40] Locations included Bridgeland, Inglewood, and Heritage Park.[41] Didsbury, Alberta was used as the setting for the series' small town of Purgatory.[42][43]
Syfy released the first promotional images and synopsis for the series on November 6, 2015.[44] The teaser trailer was released through IGN in January 2016.[45]
Wynonna Earp premiered on April 1, 2016, on Syfy;[46] and on April 4, 2016, on CHCH-DT.[9]
On July 23, 2016, the renewal for a second season was announced at the Wynonna Earp panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).[47][48][49] In Canada, Wynonna Earp moved from CHCH-DT to Space effective April 15, 2017.[50][4] In anticipation of the premiere of Season 2, Space began airing Season 1 on the same date with a special double-episode series debut.[51][52]
After the series was renewed for a second season, Melanie Scrofano found out that she was pregnant. Emily Andras decided to incorporate her pregnancy in the arc of the titular character, she informed IDW Entertainment of the prospective plot, and Syfy added two more episodes, increasing Season 2 from 10 to 12 episodes.[53][54][55][56][57]
Season 2 began filming in Calgary and surrounding areas from December 12, 2016, to April 13, 2017.[58][59] Additional location shooting took place in Springbank, Alberta.[60] The recurring cast was joined by Varun Saranga in the role of Jeremy Chetri and Tamara Duarte as Rosita.[61]
The 'sneak peek' of the teaser trailer for the new season was released on April 1, 2017,[62] and the trailer released officially by IGN on May 19, 2017.[63] Syfy released the poster for the season on May 24, 2017.[61]
Season 2 premiered on June 9, 2017, on Syfy and Space.[64][65][66][67][68]
On July 22, 2017, David Ozer, president of IDW Entertainment, announced at the show's SDCC panel that the series had been renewed for a third season with the premiere scheduled for 2018.[69][70] Space announced on the same day that it had ordered 12 episodes for a third season, together with Syfy.[71][60] Andras credited Wynonna Earp's passionate fan base (nicknamed "Earpers") with gaining the renewal.[72][73]
Filming of Season 3 began January 15, 2018 and ended on May 7, 2018.[74][75][76] On February 5, 2018, the series announced the casting of Megan Follows in the role of Michelle Earp, the mother of Wynonna Earp.[77]
In March 2018, Syfy and Space announced that Zoie Palmer had joined the series as a guest star in the role of Jolene;[78][79] followed by the announcement that Chantel Riley had been cast in the recurring role of a bounty hunter character named Kate.[80] Bell Media announced on April 24 that musician Jann Arden had joined the cast as Bunny Loblaw, a member of Purgatory's town council.[81]
The key art for the season was released on June 5, 2018, along with photos of the cast.[82] Syfy's trailer for the third season was released on June 8, 2018.[83] Space released its trailer on June 15, 2018.[84][85] The episode titles were released on June 19, 2018.[86]
Season 3 premiered on July 20, 2018, on Syfy and Space.[87][88][89][90] The first episode of the season was released as a special broadcast by Syfy on July 16, 2018, at 11 p.m. Eastern, in advance of the season premiere.[86][83][87][91]
On July 21, 2018, the renewal by Syfy and Space (rebranded as CTV Sci-Fi Channel in 2019) for a fourth season was announced at SDCC.[92][93] The season was scheduled to premiere in 2019 and comprise 12 episodes.[94]
In late February 2019, news broke that the start of production on the fourth season had been delayed due to financial problems at IDW Entertainment.[95][96][97] On July 2, 2019, it was announced that production would begin in late 2019 and filming starting January 2020,[98][99][100][101][102] with Cineflix Studios as co-producer, and Canada's Crave network as a new production partner.[99] Emily Andras thanked fans of Wynonna Earp for their loyalty, "This is an enormous testament to our passionate and fierce fans, the Earpers, who remind us every day how to fight like hell for the things you love with wit, ferocity and kindness."[99] Andras and cast were slated to appear at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.[100]
Filming for Season 4 began in Calgary on January 15, 2020.[103] New cast joining the series in the fourth season include Martina Ortiz-Luis as Rachel, Andrew Phung, and Ty Olsson.[104] Production was temporarily suspended on March 16 after Alberta issued a provincial order to stop all television and film productions due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus in the region and Canada.[13][105][106]
The trailer for the fourth season was released on June 26, 2020.[107] The key art for the new season was decided in a Syfy fan contest held in June 2020, with Emily Andras selecting the winning design announced on July 17, 2020.[108][109][110]
On June 26, 2020, the series and Bell Media announced the premiere of the first six episodes of Season 4 on July 26.[111][112] Filming on the remaining episodes resumed on July 16, 2020.[113][114][115]
On February 5, 2021, SyFy announced that it had cancelled the series, with the second half of the season returning on March 5.[16][17] In her statement about the decision, Emily Andras said, "I have been honored to tell Wynonna and her family's story, and along with Seven24, Cineflix and CTV Sci-Fi, are hopeful we can continue to share their inspiring tales in the future."[18][116]
Although the series was cancelled on Syfy, Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald reported that Seven24 Films was "in discussions with American broadcasters" and hoped to "keep this remarkable show going", while fans of the series had mounted an international campaign for a fifth season.[117]
Wynonna Earp premiered in the United Kingdom on Spike on July 29, 2016, at 9:00 p.m.[118][119] The series premiered in Australia on Spike on February 5, 2017.[120][121]
In the UK, Season 2 premiered on Spike on June 13, 2017, at 10:00 p.m.[122] Season 3 premiered on 5Spike on July 27, 2018, at 10:00 p.m.[123]
The series is distributed internationally on Netflix.[121]
Wynonna Earp became available on Amazon Video as video on demand on May 6, 2016.[124][125]
In December 2016, SEVEN24 Films producer Jordy Randall announced in an interview with the Calgary Herald that Season 1 would be streaming on Netflix.[58] The series became available on Netflix in the United States on April 1, 2017;[126][127][128] and in Canada on April 5, 2017.[129]
The Season 1 DVD for Region 4 and Blu-ray for Region B were released first in Australia by Roadshow Entertainment on May 3, 2017.[130][131][132]
The Season 2 DVD was released in Region 4 and the Blu-ray in Region B by Roadshow Entertainment on November 1, 2017.[133][134][135]
A crowdfunding campaign for a region free Blu-ray release was launched on May 23, 2017, by IDW Entertainment on Indiegogo.[136][137]
In the United States, season 1 averaged a total rating of 0.13 with 0.56 million viewers.[138] The season received a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 6.11/10. The critical consensus states: "What Wynonna Earp lacks in originality it more than makes up for in gritty, silly, supernatural fun."[139] Metacritic gave it an average score of 68 out of 100.[140]
Season 2 averaged a 0.12 rating in the U.S. with 0.50 million viewers.[141] Viewership among women aged 18–34 increased 44 percent, representing more than half of Wynonna Earp's audience.[142] The season received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 8.33/10. The critical consensus states: "Wynonna Earp ups the ante with more action, more surprises, and more Melanie Scrofano as the titular sharp-tongued gunslinger."[143]
In the U.S., season 3 averaged a rating of 0.11 with 0.47 million viewers.[144] The season received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The critical consensus states: "Wynonna's back, action-packed, and dressed in black in the dynamic third season of Wynonna Earp."[145]
In Canada, overall viewership increased 52% on Space compared to season 1 on CHCH-DT.[71][60] Viewership of season 2 increased 30% compared to the first season, and made Space "the most-watched entertainment specialty channel" during the program's time slot.[93]
In its new series review, Collider gave Wynonna Earp four stars, calling it "a fresh and familiar take on zombies, the Wild West, and gunslinger culture" and "something that also feels different to anything we're seeing on TV currently, thanks not only to its setting, but its prominent placement of so many strong, profane, kickass female characters."[146] Digital Journal said the series was "smart" and "complex" with "a lot going for it".[147] The A.V. Club called Melanie Scrofano "the right woman for the job ... an easy, authoritative presence"; and "when it's allowed the room to run, Wynonna Earp delights in itself," adding that the series "could grow into the good-time Western pulp it has the potential to be."[148] In a post-season 1 review for Salon, Melanie McFarland wrote: "This modern Western proved its mettle by dint of unexpectedly weird plotting and witty dialogue ... [Melanie] Scrofano lends a hardened and slightly feral swagger to Wynonna that's vastly entertaining ... Much of the show's winning spirit rests in its exploration of family loyalty and the popular conviction that one's blood and dynastic ties compel one to fulfill a prescribed destiny."[149]
E! Entertainment Television named Wynonna Earp the "Best New Show" of 2016.[20] It was chosen by Variety as one of the 20 best new series of 2016, stating "what this prairie-set Canadian import lacks in budget, it makes up for in gumption, sass and camaraderie."[21] In its annual "Best of TV" highlight, Collider named Wynonna Earp the "Best New Sci-Fi" show of 2016.[22]
Maureen Ryan of Variety named Wynonna Earp one of the best television shows of 2017, praising its "fierce and committed performances".[23] The New York Times recommended Wynonna Earp as one of the television series to stream on Netflix, describing it as "internal mythology [that] can be a little too involved, but the characters' motivations are always clear, and the snarky dialogue is fun".[150]
"Wayhaught", the portmanteau for the relationship between Waverly Earp and Nicole Haught, was considered one of the favorite 2017 fan "ships" on Tumblr, and the series was praised for how it is portrayed and acknowledged by Dominique Provost-Chalkley and Katherine Barrell.[151]
Wynonna Earp was a monumental series for LGBTQ representation specifically in its positive portrayal of the relationship between characters Waverly Earp and Nicole Haught. The show aired in 2016 during a hostile television environment for the LGBTQ+ community. Queer characters were often killed off, accumulating more than 25 queer women dying on "scripted TV and streaming shows in that year alone".[152] Emily Andras, the showrunner, made a promise early on that the queer characters in Wynonna Earp would survive. In the Season 1 finale, the harmful "Bury Your Gays" trope was challenged when Nicole survives being shot due to wearing a bulletproof vest. Many actors and creators of the show have expressed how the fandom's support shows just how important representation is, with Katherine Barrell saying, "WayHaught was one of the first, I think, examples in pop culture of how powerful a fandom can be when they finally see themselves onscreen" and Emily Andras saying, "It’s when you take a community of people that don’t feel represented in a way that makes their hearts happy, and makes them feel seen, and makes them feel loved, and included, and accepted, and celebrated, but when you do that you can create things like this. You can move mountains. And I think that’s the power of WayHaught."[153]
The show has earned three GLAAD Media Award nominations for their positive queer representation.[154]
Wynonna Earp deals with many feminist themes throughout the series and highlights strong female characters who are not defined by their relationship to men. A notable episode called "Everybody Knows" engages in positive discourse on the topic of women's sexuality and dismantles ideas of shaming women for being sex positive while Wynonna tries to figure out the identity of her baby's father.[155] Another major form of female empowerment is found through the storyline of Wynonna's pregnancy that was added to the plot due to the unexpected pregnancy of its lead actress, Melanie Scrofano. The series' showrunner Emily Andras made it a point to incorporate Melanie's pregnancy into the show rather than hide it. Andras discusses the importance of this storyline by saying, "I think that’s a story that doesn’t always get told. This isn’t necessarily a woman in a monogamous [situation]. It’s a woman who lives a certain lifestyle, unapologetically, who has now found herself pregnant."[156]
Wynonna Earp producers and cast members appeared at the Calgary International Film Festival on September 30, 2017, in a special program showcasing film and television productions in Alberta, Canada. The event was live-streamed and featured behind-the-scenes stories, insights, and a Q&A session.[157][158]
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2018 | Best Visual Presentation – Wynonna Earp Season 2 | Emily Andras and Brad Wright | Nominated | [159][160] |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2017 | Best Writing in a Dramatic Series | Emily Andras (episode: "Purgatory") (Channel (Broadcaster): CHCH (Channel Zero)) | Nominated | [161] [162] [163] [164] [165] |
Best Achievement in Make-Up | Joanne Jacobsen, Jo-Dee Thomson (episode: "Diggin' Up Bones") | Nominated | ||
Best Costume Design | Jennifer Haffenden (episode: "Keep the Home Fires Burning") | Nominated | ||
Best Original Music Score for a Series | Robert Carli and Peter Chapman (episode: "House of Memories") | Nominated | ||
Best Visual Effects | Geoff Scott, William Garrett, Sarah Wormsbecher, Eric Doiron, Nathan Larouche, Anthony DeChellis, Lon Molnar (episode: "I Walk the Line") | Nominated | ||
Best Cross-Platform Project – Fiction (Digital Media) | Wynonna Earp Interactive, Daniel Dales, Jarrett Sherman, Alex Lalonde, Jordy Randall, Emily Andras (Production Company: Digital Howard Inc.) | Won | [166][167] | |
2018 | Best Writing, Drama Series | Emily Andras (episode: "I Hope You Dance") (Channel (Broadcaster): Space (Bell Media)) | Nominated | [168][169] |
Best Cross-Platform Project, Fiction | Wynonna Earp Digital, Daniel Dales, Jarrett Sherman, Alex Lalonde, Emily Andras, Jordy Randall, Tom Cox, Christin Hanly (Production Company: Digital Howard Inc.) | Won | [170][171] | |
2019 | Best Lead Actress, Drama Series | Melanie Scrofano | Nominated | [172] [173] [174] [175] [176] [177] [178] |
Best Photography, Drama | Gavin Smith (episode: "Undo It") | Nominated | ||
Best Sound, Fiction | Mark Shnuriwsky, Janice Ierulli, Matthew Hussey, Sid Lieberman, Michael Markiw, Mike Woroniuk, Paul Shubat (episode: "War Paint") | Nominated | ||
Best Production Design or Art Direction, Fiction | Ingrid Jurek, Cathy Cowan, Amber Humphries (episode: "Daddy Lessons") | Nominated | ||
Best Costume Design | Jennifer Haffenden (episode: "War Paint") | Nominated | ||
Best Visual Effects | Lon Molnar, Giancarlo Derchie, Mike Duffy, Che Spencer, Anthony De Chellis, Mike Kwan, Frank Calero, Michael Enzbrunner, Parastu Rezaie, Mark Ferguson (episode: "War Paint") | Nominated | ||
Best Achievement in Hair | Jo-Dee Thomson (episode: "Blood Red and Going Down") | Nominated | ||
Best Achievement in Make-Up | Joanne Jacobsen (episode: "War Paint") | Won | [179][180] |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2017 | Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series | Wynonna Earp | Nominated | [181] |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2017 | Outstanding Drama Series | Wynonna Earp | Nominated | [182] |
2019 | Outstanding Drama Series | Wynonna Earp | Nominated | [183] |
2021 | Outstanding Drama Series | Wynonna Earp | Nominated | [184][185] |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2018 | Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of 2018 | Wynonna Earp | Won | [186][187] |
2020 | Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of 2020 | Wynonna Earp | Won | [188][189] |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Action | Wynonna Earp | Nominated | [190][191] |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2017 | Best Dramatic Series | Tom Cox and Jordy Randall, Producers, SEVEN24 Films | Won | [192][193][194] |
Best Performance by an Alberta Actor | Peter Skagen (episode: "Leavin On Your Mind") | Nominated | ||
Shaun Johnston (episode: "Landslide") | Nominated | |||
Best Overall Sound (Drama Over 30 Minutes) | Michael Playfair, Robert "Arjay" Joly, Steve Forst, & Paul Shubat (episode: "I Walk the Line") | Nominated | ||
Best Production Designer/Art Director | Trevor Smith (episode: "Two-Faced Jack") | Nominated | ||
Best Costume Designer | Jennifer Haffenden (episode: "She Wouldn't Be Gone") | Nominated | ||
Best Make-Up & Hair Artist(s) | Joanne Jacobsen, Jo-Dee Thomson, Gunther Schetterer & Linda Nelson (episode:"Diggin Up Bones") | Nominated |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2017 | Best Script from a Rookie Series | Alexandra Zarowny (episode: "Bury Me With My Guns On") | Won | [195][196] |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2019 | Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award | Dominique Provost-Chalkley | Won | [197] |
2020 | Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award | Katherine Barrell | Won | [198] |
2021 | Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award | Melanie Scrofano | Won | [199][200] |
Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
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2017 | Girl on Top | Melanie Scrofano | Won | [201] |
2018 | TV's Top Leading Lady | Melanie Scrofano | Won | [202] |
Wynonna Earp's fan base is credited with increasing the series' presence on social media and benefitting Syfy's "It's a Fan Thing" marketing campaign for niche audiences.[142]
In response to reportage that season 4 was jeopardized due to financial complications on the part of IDW,[96] dedicated fans began a social media campaign to save the series,[203][204][205] including electronic billboards in Times Square promoting Wynonna Earp.[206][207][208][209] In appreciation of their campaign, Melanie Scrofano sponsored a billboard thanking fans for their support.[210]