EXCLUSIVE: Canada‘s Bell Media and Blink49 Studios have struck a first-look deal with Canadian showrunner and writer Celeste Parr and her company, Punctuation Media.

The deal is underway with We Never Happened, an hour-long romantic drama based on an original idea from Ethel writer Parr housed at Heated Rivalry commissioner Bell and Wild Cards producer Blink49. No further details from the show were revealed beyond that it is billed as a “gripping romantic thriller” and a “global story.”

Parr launched Toronto-based Punctuation in 2024 with media exec Oliver Kane to develop and support a slate of original scripted titles for the international marketplace. She already has Emily VanCamp-starring drama series Prejudice in with Bell, a production made in partnership with Neshama Entertainment and Fox Entertainment Global, as we first reported on in April 2024 prior to the network’s involvement.

Parr was most recently a writer and showrunner for Season 3 of CBC’s anthology series Plan B, for which she was nominated for a 2026 Canadian Screen Award for Best Drama Series. Her second feature film, Ethel, is set for production in 2027 starring Shira Haas and Sarah Paulson and comes from Sphere Films.

“Since we first read Prejudice, we’ve always believed in Celeste’s seemingly effortless ability to bring complex, nuanced, and compelling female characters alive on the page,” said Carlyn Klebuc, Original Programming at Bell.

“We Never Happened introduces us to a wholly original, strong, and complicated female lead in sexy new romantic drama, and we’re thrilled to announce this first-look deal and develop this series with our partners.”

Kane, Punctuation’s President and executive producer, added: “We Never Happened is a fitting first series to move through this partnership because it embodies every pillar of what we’re building at Punctuation. It’s propulsive and sexy, but it’s also thematically rich and emotionally layered in a way that rewards close viewing. Celeste has thoughtfully built a global story that still feels intimate, and we’re proud that this is the project declaring the kind of ambitious television we’re setting out to make with Bell Media and Blink49 Studios.” 

The news comes as Banff World Media Festival gets underway this week. The event is Canada’s largest TV gathering, with today’s keynotes including CRTC’s Vicky Eatrides addressing plans to reform the country’s television tax break system and Netflix’s Jinny Howe delivering a keynote.

It also follows the announcement of Bell’s 2026/27 slate, including a TV version of classic comedy Meatballs from Blink49 and Incendo for streamer Crave. TV and streaming giant Bell is a part-owner of Canada- and the U.S.-based Blink49, which itself has invested in the likes of Front Street Pictures, Pier21 Films and Lighthearted Entertainment.

“Celeste and Oliver are creating bold, distinctive television that is both provocative and deeply entertaining,” said Carolyn Newman, Executive Vice President, Global Scripted Programming at Blink49.

“We Never Happened is a gripping romantic thriller that delivers on the promise of the genre. We’re thrilled to be in business with them, and to continue building on our strong collaboration with Bell Media through this exciting project and what we know will be many more to come under this announced first-look deal.”

Parr is represented by Carl Liberman at The Characters Talent Agency as well as Cathy King and Sam Hudson Brown at 42