BossaNova & CJZ Align with Australia’s Network Seven for Con Girl

BossaNova Media and factual indie CJZ have entered into a partnership with Australia’s Network Seven to co-produce a true-crime series about serial con woman Samantha Azzopardi.

The four-part series Con Girl tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Australian con artist Azzopardi, who has amassed at least 70 false identities since she embarked upon her career of deception as a 14-year-old girl from Brisbane.

Paramount+, which launched in the U.K. and Ireland in June, has also acquired the series exclusively for local audiences. Con Girl is slated to air on Paramount+ and Network Seven later this year.

Paul Heaney, CEO of BossaNova, said: “Our involvement with Con Girl grew out of BossaNova’s first Development Day pitching event in 2021. CJZ brought the project to London, having already secured Network Seven’s backing, and we are delighted that Paramount+ has picked it up for the U.K. and Ireland too. Our Development Days aim to match promising ideas with the right commissioners and buyers to move them across the start line. I think it’s fair to say that projects don’t come much more stunning than Con Girl, either in terms of subject matter or co-production partners. We can’t wait to share Samantha Azzopardi’s story. All of them.”

Damian O’Hara, acting senior acquisitions manager for the U.K. at Channel 5 and Paramount+, said: “We’re delighted to work with BossaNova and CJZ to bring this unbelievable true story to the Paramount+ audience later this year. Con Girl is a great example of the compelling stories we are acquiring to complement our growing offering of Paramount+ Originals and vast library content.

“From the sheer scale of Samantha’s cons to the intricacies that fooled law enforcement, social workers and the kindness of strangers, this is a truly remarkable tale. We’re hoping our viewers will be as captivated as we have been by the mystery and this worldwide journey of deceit.”

Matt Campbell, group CEO of CJZ, added: “Seven is thrilled to work with Paramount+ on this extraordinary series from CJZ. We can’t wait to share it with our audience.”