TVDRAMA
Cineflix Rights is set to present an exclusive preview of Sunny Nights, starring Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth, Bodkin, Saturday Night Live) and D’Arcy Carden (Nobody Wants This, The Good Place, Barry) at Berlinale as part of its Series Market Selects strand.
The series, produced by Jungle Entertainment (No Activity, Mr. Inbetween) and Echo Lake Entertainment (The Great), sees strait-laced American Martin Marvin team up with his loose-cannon sister Vicki to set up a spray tan business in Sydney. As they attempt to turn their company into a multimillion-dollar empire, they become tangled in the city’s criminal underworld.
Rachel House (Thor: Ragnarok, Heartbreak High, Foundation), Jessica De Gouw (The Couple Next Door, The Artful Dodger, Ladies in Black), Miritana Hughes (Wakefield, Preacher), Ra Chapman (White Fever, Wentworth) and Megan Wilding (Gold Diggers, Mystery Road: Origin) star alongside Forte and Carden. Patrick Brammall (Colin From Accounts, No Activity, The Letdown) makes a special appearance.
The Stan original series received major production investment from Screen Australia and was financed with support from Screen NSW. It is created and written by Nick Keetch (Almost Paradise) and Ty Freer (High Fire, Almost Paradise). Trent O’Donnell (Population 11, Colin from Accounts, No Activity, Hacks) directs.
“I loved the pilot for Sunny Nights and immediately thought of Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden to play the leads,” O’Donnell said. “Miraculously, they both said yes, which inspired me to direct all eight episodes. The collaboration among Will, Darcy and our incredibly talented Australian and New Zealand cast has made this a dream project!”
James Durie, head of scripted at Cineflix Rights, added, “We’re thrilled to be working with Jungle and Echo Lake, companies that have produced outstanding, distinctive global hits. We can’t wait to start rolling out Sunny Nights, which is helmed by the incredibly talented Trent O’Donnell, to our global buyers.”
“Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden really bring to life the comedy in Ty Freer and Nick Keetch’s brilliant scripts, but also all the dramatic tension that comes from trying to save their business while avoiding the long arms of the mob,” said Jason Burrows, executive producer and managing director of Jungle Entertainment. “Supported by a fantastic Australian and New Zealand cast, including Jessica De Gouw and Rachel House, we are really looking forward to sharing Sunny Nights with viewers.”
Cailah Scobie, chief content officer of Stan, added, “At Stan, we are dedicated to shaping stories that transcend borders, reflecting the universal while celebrating the distinct. Our passion for bold, authentic storytelling fuels collaborations that captivate global audiences, ensuring that Australian creativity not only shines at home but leaves a lasting imprint on the world stage. We are delighted to continue working with Trent O’Donnell as director and creative on the fabulous Sunny Nights, alongside Jungle Entertainment, international partners Echo Lake and Cineflix Rights and a brilliantly talented ensemble of local creators. With Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden’s comedic genius, Sunny Nights promises to be a must-watch drama that exemplifies our commitment to bringing world-class content to life.”
