Netflix Canada is venturing into the rugged beauty of the Canadian Rockies with an eight-episode order for The Granville Girls, a captivating new period romance drama. Based on Cat Cahill’s The Gilbert Girls book series, this anticipated show promises adventure, friendship, and forbidden love against the epic backdrop of the late 1800s transcontinental railway construction.
Netflix Canada has officially commissioned The Granville Girls, an eight-part period romance drama that will transport viewers to the thrilling era of Canada’s transcontinental railway expansion. This ambitious project is an adaptation of U.S. author Cat Cahill’s The Gilbert Girls romance book series, known for its tales of women seeking independence and adventure. While Cahill’s original novels are set in a Colorado mountain valley, the Netflix series cleverly relocates the narrative to Canada’s own majestic Rocky Mountains, a historically accurate setting for the construction of the main transcontinental railway in the late 1800s.
The Allure of the Granville Hotel and a Forbidden Romance
The core of The Granville Girls revolves around Emma Daniels, one of a select group of women hired to work at the prestigious Granville Hotel. This unique opportunity offers Emma not only adventure and the promise of newfound friendships but also a crucial chance to support her family. However, her employment comes with one stringent condition: never fraternize with the men. This rule is swiftly challenged when Emma finds her heart captured by the hotel’s mysterious builder, leading her into a forbidden romance that could jeopardize everything she has worked for.
According to a statement from Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury, Directors of Content for Netflix in Canada, the series is envisioned as “a big blue-sky series that offers the comfort of female friendship and the allure of period romance.” This description highlights the show’s potential to resonate with a broad audience, blending historical drama with compelling personal stakes and emotional depth.
Behind the Scenes: A Team of Canadian Talent
Bringing this grand vision to the screen is a team of established Canadian talent. Adriana Maggs, recognized for her work on shows like Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent and Frontier, will helm the series as both showrunner and writer. Her distinctive voice is expected to shape the narrative into a compelling and authentic portrayal of the era.
The production is managed by Shaftesbury, a prominent Canadian company celebrated for its work on popular series such as Murdoch Mysteries. Christina Jennings, Chairman and President of Shaftesbury, will serve as an executive producer, lending her extensive experience to the project. Jennings expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “Shaftesbury is delighted to partner with Netflix and showrunner Adriana Maggs to bring ‘The Granville Girls’ to the screen. Global audiences will discover the splendour of the Rocky Mountains — a perfect setting for our young women to explore adventure, friendship and romance,” as reported by Variety.
Netflix Canada’s Growing Commitment to Local Originals
The greenlight for The Granville Girls underscores Netflix Canada’s increasing investment in original Canadian content. This decision follows a string of recent successes for the streaming giant’s Canadian outpost. Earlier this year, the drama series Wayward, created by Mae Martin, captivated audiences and topped Netflix’s global charts. Upon its release on September 25, 2025, Wayward became the most-watched English-language series for two consecutive weeks, outperforming other major titles released concurrently.
Other Canadian projects currently in the works include Shaftesbury’s Slo Pitch for streamer Crave, a shortform digital comedy about a queer underdog baseball team, co-produced with Elliot Page’s prodco Pageboy. Additionally, Netflix greenlit a Newfoundland-set series earlier in the year from Umbrella Academy writer Jesse McKeown. These projects, including The Granville Girls, signify Netflix’s strategic focus on nurturing and showcasing Canadian storytelling talent on a global stage, a move detailed by The Canadian Press.
The Legacy of The Gilbert Girls Books
Cat Cahill’s The Gilbert Girls series has garnered a devoted readership, providing a rich foundation for this television adaptation. The series, which includes titles such as Forbidden Forever and On the Edge of Forever, explores themes of independence, adventure, and romance, making it a natural fit for a period drama. Fans of the books are eagerly anticipating how the beloved characters and their journeys will translate to the screen within the new Canadian setting. This adaptation not only offers a fresh perspective on the well-loved stories but also introduces Cahill’s vibrant narratives to an even wider international audience.
The ordering of The Granville Girls reaffirms Netflix’s commitment to the romance genre, building on the success of other adaptations like Ransom Canyon (based on Jodi Thomas novels) and planned series like the one based on Elsie Silver’s Chestnut Springs novels. This strategic expansion into diverse romance narratives positions The Granville Girls as a key title for viewers seeking heartfelt stories with a historical twist.
