The new 16-episode Ukrainian detective-comedy series Taxi for a Cop will premiere on the 2+2 television channel on September 7 at 8:20 p.m. Actors Hryhoriy Baklanov and Dmytro Vivcharyuk take the lead roles in the project, which combines police investigations with comedy, action, and relationship drama.
The series centers on a former professional footballer who turns to work as a taxi driver after ending his athletic career. His routine changes unexpectedly when he finds himself caught in the middle of criminal events and begins assisting law enforcement officers in solving cases.
Screenwriters Artem Kobzan and Mark Lymarenko pitched the concept to producer Serhiy Karpenko after finding inspiration in the real-life story of a retired footballer who became a taxi driver. Karpenko explained that in the television adaptation, the former athlete goes beyond driving to help solve active criminal investigations.
Karpenko noted that the production team focused heavily on creating a dynamic double act between two contrasting individuals forced to collaborate. The central partnership features two main characters named Motya and Pasich, whose differing personalities and moral principles create friction as they work as crime-fighting partners.
Casting decisions and pilot revisions
Finding the right actors for the lead roles required an extensive casting search, according to Karpenko. The production team selected Baklanov and Vivcharyuk after witnessing their chemistry during screen tests, realizing immediately that the two actors formed the ideal pairing for the series.
Karpenko highlighted Vivcharyuk's performance, noting that the actor had previously been known primarily for comedic roles but demonstrated a broader dramatic range during auditions. He described Vivcharyuk's character, Pasich, as upright, slightly clumsy, deeply humane, and authentic, matching how the screenwriters originally envisioned the role.
Prior to full production, the creators filmed a pilot episode and screened it before a focus group. Following audience feedback, the team made major adjustments to the scripts, character developments, and one of the primary female casting choices. Karpenko described replacing an actress after a pilot as an almost unprecedented step for channel 2+2, but said the decision significantly strengthened the show before principal photography began.
Supporting ensemble and broadcast details
The series features a broad ensemble cast, with the showrunners aiming to give secondary characters distinct roles rather than treating them as background figures. Supporting cast members include Oleksiy Cherevatenko, Serhiy Kyyashko, Anastasiya Nesterenko, Nataliya Koretska, Mykhailo Zhonin, Valeriy Shvets, Yakiv Kucherevskyi, Serhiy Mitryushin, Olena Olar, and Pavlo Kochubey.
Beyond criminal cases, the 16 episodes explore themes of friendship, personal trust, romantic relationships, and moral choices. Viewers will follow the partners as they resolve criminal mysteries while learning to work together despite their contrasting temperaments.
Television channel 2+2 is a nationwide Ukrainian broadcast network operating under the 1+1 Media Group, catering primarily to adult audiences with a lineup of action series, crime dramas, sports broadcasting, and reality programming. Both lead actors are established figures in Ukrainian entertainment, with Baklanov having starred in prominent television series and Vivcharyuk appearing across theater and screen productions.
