A drama mini-series in the vein of Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War has been commissioned by Channel Nine for their 2013 programming schedule.
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story comes from the same creators as Howzat! and will follow the battle between Sir Frank Packer and Rupert Murdoch between 1960-1975.
Howzat! attracted audiences of over two million when it aired in August this year, and actor Lachy Hulme received rave reviews for his portrayal of Packer.
The title roles in The Power Games are yet to be cast.
The script, still in development, is based on archives and will charter “how the epic ambitions of Rupert Murdoch and the Packer family collided as they battled for control of Australia’s newspaper and television industries.”
Channel Nine has also announced another telemovie, Schappelle, which will tell the story of Gold Coast beauty therapist Schappelle Corby, who was arrested in Bali in 2004 after marijuana was discovered in her boogie board bag.
Inspired by the bestseller Sins of the Father by journalist Eamonn Duff, Schappelle will plot Corby’s ill-fated holiday, the ensuing media attention and, “lift the lid on what went behind the headlines.”
The project will be produced by Fremantle Media (The King, Killing Time, Devil’s Dust.)