The Seven Network has commissioned a spin-off of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, the drama which starred Essie Davis as a glamorous 1920s private detective.
Every Cloud Productions will start shooting Ms Fisher’s MODern Murder Mysteries, four telemovies set in Melbourne in the 1960s, in October.
The protagonist is Miss Fisher’s niece Peregrine Fisher, who inherits a windfall when the famous aunt she never knew goes missing over the highlands of New Guinea.
Peregrine must prove herself brilliant enough to become a world class private detective in her own right. The casting is yet to be revealed.
Every Cloud Productions’ Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox created the spin-off which will be produced by Beth Frey, directed by Fiona Banks and scripted by Cox, Samantha Winston, Chelsea Cassio and Jo Martino.
Three seasons of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries aired on the ABC, which was keen to renew the show but Davis moved to London to star in Game of Thrones and The White Princess.
Eagger tells IF she is “very appreciative of the ABC for the original series but Seven were the ones that showed interest in the spin-off. We are very excited to be working with the team at Seven to explore this wonderful brand in a new way. The series will be full of the usual three F’s our fans have come to expect – feminism, fashion and fun.”
Cox added: “Ms Fisher, next generation, will be as glamorous as her aunt, brandishing her signature pearl-handled pistol and bantering endlessly with the main man in her life – but her stylish apartment, her sleek sports car and her cutting-edge wardrobe have certainly moved with the times.”
All3Media International has the rights outside Australia and will pitch the show as 8 x 1 hours. The investors include Screen Australia, Film Victoria and Fulcrum Media Finance.
Screen Australia’s head of production Sally Caplan said: “It’s fantastic to see such a clever re-imagining of this popular series involving strong female characters, which will appeal to a highly engaged fan base and will be driven by a talented female creative team.”
Davis will star in Every Cloud’s theatrical movie Miss Fisher & The Crypt of Tears, set in 1929, which will start shooting in October, directed by Tony Tilse.