Scott Ryan and Damon Herriman in ‘Mr Inbetween.’
Fox’s flagship US cable entertainment network FX has acquired Jungle Entertainment/Blue-Tongue Films’ Mr Inbetween and co-commissioned with Foxtel the development of a second series.
The six-part drama created by and starring Scott Ryan, based on his 2005 feature The Magician, will premiere on FX and on Foxtel’s showcase and streaming service in the northern autumn.
The series which had its world premiere in the first Indie Episodic section of the Sundance Film Festival marked the TV directing debut of Nash Edgerton, who is expected to take the reins again.
Ryan plays Ray Shoesmith, a hitman who conducts his chilling business while striving to juggle friendships, parental responsibilities and romance.
The plot follows Ray as he raises his precocious daughter Brittany (Edgerton’s real-life daughter Chika Yasumura) and embarks on a romance with EMT Ally (Brooke Satchwell).
The cast includes Damon Herriman, Justin Rosniak, Edmund Lembke-Hogan, Nicholas Cassim and YouTube star Natalie Tran.
Produced by Michelle Bennett, it was the first Australian series commissioned by FX Australia, which never got the chance to screen it as the channel was dumped by Foxtel in February.
Eric Schrier, president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions, said: “Mr Inbetween is an extraordinary achievement for Scott Ryan, who took it from an indie film with a cult following to a half-hour drama that he stars in.
“Scott is one of those rare creators who can bring his own character to life on screen and he is perfectly paired with Nash Edgerton, who brilliantly directed all six episodes. This project is a great inaugural step with Foxtel as the home of FX original series in Australia.”
FX had first-look rights in the US to the series co-funded by Screen Australia and Create NSW. International distribution is being handled by Fox Networks Group, London.
FX and Foxtel are funding a writers’ room for the second series, which is expected to involve several writers as well as Ryan. The second series is likely to be eight or 10 episodes.
Edgerton made his feature film directing debut on The Square, which received seven AFI nominations including best film, director and original screenplay.
Recently he directed Gringo, a crime comedy for Amazon Studios, starring Charlize Theron, David Oyelowo, Joel Edgerton, Amanda Seyfried, Thandie Newton and Sharlto Copley, which opens here on May 31 via Roadshow.
He also served as executive producer on Boy Erased, a coming-of-age drama directed by and co-starring his brother Joel with Nicole Kidman, Lucas Hedges and Russell Crowe, which will be released later this year.