Matt Newton Says “No” To Violent TV Role

Matt Newton has rather smartly declined an offer to play a a hitman named “Mad” Richard Mladenich, in Channel 9’s new gangland drama, Underbelly.

Escaping conviction over his assault of ex-girlfriend Brooke Satchwell last week, Newton knocked back the role in Underbelly, citing filming commitments to the second series of the pay-TV comedy series Stupid, Stupid Man.

His protracted legal issues however may have also been a factor that led to his passing on the project.

Now, we know “the biz” well enough to know this story has been planted by Matt’s publicist, but we’re still struggling to figure out what the aim of it is..

Is it to tell us that Matt’s legal woes haven’t harmed his career, as his lawyer argued last week? That he’s still busy. So busy, in fact, that he can afford to pass up work?

Or is it to tell us Matt isn’t keen on being hated as much on-screen as he is off it.

Either way, we’ll leave the irony of the title of Matt’s comedy show well alone.