Underbelly Producers To Turn ‘Cloudstreet’ Into TV Miniseries

News that the producers of Underbelly have set their sights on the acclaimed (well, not by everyone) Tim Winton novel Cloudstreet and are planning on turning it into a six hour miniseries struck me as… well, probably good news for Australian actors sick of making lattes and crying over broken dreams.

Reports The Australian:

The producers of Underbelly will adapt Tim Winton’s popular novel Cloudstreet as a six-hour TV mini-series. Screentime, which is working on a third series of Underbelly for the Nine Network and a telemovie about murdered Sydneysider Caroline Byrne for the Ten Network, will make Cloudstreet for subscription television channel Showcase.

“There’s no pressure at all,” joked Screentime’s Des Monaghan of the first screen adaptation of the Miles Franklin Award winner. “Nobody has views about Cloudstreet; nobody has cast it in their mind but that’s also the joy of it: that we’re developing an iconic piece and (are) hugely advantaged by the longer television form.”

As a general rule I actually loathe seeing books I’ve read adapted for the screen as I find that the casting, acting, and direction is much better in my head That said, we should be grateful we’re not going to be seeing a Kath & Kim-esque version of Cloudstreet.

The screen rights to the period domestic drama were held by US producers, who failed in their attempts to turn it into either a film or TV series. Screentime spent four years trying to buy the rights in what Monaghan described as a “very protracted and very frustrating process”.

That the rights were held offshore appeared to irk Winton:. “For me, it has always been important for Cloudstreet to be a home-grown production and I’m really pleased to know that, through the collaboration of Screentime and Showtime, it can be made here in Australia and provide work for local cast and crew.”

Hmmm. I hope it’s great, I really do. Any casting ideas, guys?

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