‘Romper Stomper’.
The BBC has acquired the Stan-commissioned Romper Stomper, which will premiere early this year on the youth-skewing BBC3.
The deal was negotiated by DCD Rights, which last year sold the six-part contemporary thriller to Sundance TV Global for Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Dutch-speaking Benelux, Iberia, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
Deals for the series produced by Roadshow Rough Diamond’s John Edwards and Dan Edwards for other key markets including the US are in negotiation.
BBC3, which is pitched at the 16-34 demographic, controversially went digital-only in early 2016 in recognition that younger viewers increasingly are watching content online.
Set 25 years on from Geoffrey Wright’s acclaimed 1992 film, Romper Stomper stars Toby Wallace, Lachy Hulme, Sophie Lowe, Jacqueline McKenzie, David Wenham, Nicole Chamoun, Lily Sullivan and Dan Wyllie.
Directed by Wright, Daina Reid and James Napier Robertson, the series’ debut on New Year’s Day delivered the largest premiere audience for any show screened on Stan, CEO Mike Sneesby tells IF.
Stan chief content officer Nick Forward said: “Romper Stomper was brought to the screen by world class team telling an Australian story while also addressing important contemporary and global themes.
“Stan customers have embraced the show in record numbers and we look forward to viewers in the UK experiencing it on the BBC.”
BBC3 controller Damian Kavanagh said: “This is bold, compelling storytelling featuring some of Australia’s most renowned talent alongside an array of exceptional up and coming actors.”
Sue Deeks, head of BBC program acquisition added: “Romper Stomper is vibrant, thought-provoking television that will grip audiences and ask intelligent, relevant questions about the world today. “