Disney+ has picked up “The Great White,” ABC Australia’s upcoming legal workplace drama series from See-Saw Films, the Mediawan-owned banner behind “Slow Horses,” for the U.K.
Headlined by Hugo Weaving, the anticipated six-part show has been filming in Sydney since the beginning of June and will wrap at the end of August. Mediawan Rights, the sales arm of the production-distribution powerhouse, is handling international sales alongside Entourage Media. Along with Disney+, a major German broadcaster is also expected to be unveiled shortly.
The Disney+ deal gives Mediawan Rights another high-profile example of the more hands-on role it has been carving out in scripted projects, getting involved earlier in financing and packaging discussions with producers. The company pointed to recent titles including the BBC hit “Riot Women,” created by Sally Wainwright, and the upcoming “California Avenue” from Hugo Blick, which played as the closing title at Canneseries.
“We are very pleased to be handling the international sales of ‘The Great White’ and to support a project of such scale, vision and international potential,” said Sally Habbershaw, Mediawan Rights CEO.
“The alchemy of See-Saw’s outstanding creative track record, Hugo Weaving’s lead casting and a brilliantly original feel-good concept created the momentum that led to the acquisition in the U.K.,” Habbershaw added. She said Disney+’s commitment in the U.K. giving the series a major boost as Mediawan Rights builds further international business around the title.
“The Great White” centers on brilliant but disgraced barrister Alan Armstrong, who finds himself representing a dog on death row in a case that sends him on an unexpected path toward becoming, as the synopsis puts it, “a much better human being.” Framed as a feel-good drama with heart and humor, the series pairs a distinctly offbeat legal premise with a heavyweight creative package led by Weaving.
Alongside Weaving, the cast includes Eamon Farren (“Jimpa,” The Witcher”), Arlo Green (“Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant,” “M3GAN”), Miranda Otto (“Talk to Me,” “The Lord of the Rings”) and Sacha Horler (“The Dressmaker,” “Peter Rabbit”), Brigid Zengeni (“The Artful Dodger,” “Missing You”), James Majoos (“Heartbreak High”), Emily Barclay (“Babyteeth,” “Inbetween”) and Dinasha Perera.
The show’s creative team also includes Alyssa McClelland, whose credits include “Amandaland,” “Sex Education” and “My Brilliant Career,” serving as set-up director. Mia Wasikowska is also making her television directing debut on the series, while Cannes-selected filmmaker Samantha Lang directs as well.
Lang originated and developed the project with playwright and screenwriter Ange Betzien, who created the series. Betzien, Nick Coyle and Andrew Anastasios are the writers.
Executive producers include Lang, Betzien, Liz Watts, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Helen Gregory and Weaving. McClelland and Simon Gillis serve as co-executive producers, with Angela Littlejohn producing and Libby Sharpe co-producing. Rachel Okine is executive producer for ABC.
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