Strife on Binge – BINGE today announced production has begun in Sydney on STRIFE, a new Australian series commissioned by the Foxtel Group from award-winning production company Made Up Stories, in partnership with global film and TV studio FIFTH SEASON.
Joining series lead and acclaimed Australian actress Asher Keddie is an ensemble of established and up-and-coming talent including Matt Day, Jonathan LaPaglia, Tina Bursill, Emma Lung, Maria Angelico, Rhys Mitchell, Olivia Junkeer, BeBe Bettencourt, Bryony Skillington, Lucy Ansell, Darcy Tadich and Willow Speers.
The comedic drama series tellsthe story of a modern, imperfect woman and publisher named Evelyn Jones (Keddie) and her journey from lounge room blogger to becoming a force in women’s media.
Set in the dynamic and ever-changing world of publishing, digital media and its origins, the series is inspired by Mia Freedman’s memoir, ‘Work, Strife, Balance’, and written and adapted for screen by Australian screenwriter Sarah Scheller. The series is directed by Stuart Bowen.
Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky serve as executive producers for Made Up Stories, alongside Freedman, Keddie and Scheller, Brian Walsh and Alison Hurbert-Burns for BINGE. Commissioning Editor is Lana Greenhalgh.
BINGE Executive Director, Alison Hurbert-Burns, said:
“We are so excited for the cameras to start rolling on STRIFE. A series that is led by an incredible collection of creatives, including the formidable line-up of women helmed by Bruna, Jodi, Asher and Mia. STRIFE is a strong, character driven Australian story, the likes of which BINGE seeks to tell, stories that delight both local audiences and capture global appeal.”
Papandrea, Matterson and Hutensky said,
“We have had so much fun developing Mia’s brilliant book for the screen with Asher, Sarah and Stuart and our friends at BINGE. We cannot wait for audiences to fall in love with STRIFE and with these characters, brought to life by an incredible cast lead by Asher.”
FIFTH SEASON SVP Sales, APAC, Alistair Jennings, said:
“We are excited to partner on this series that captures a brilliant, fresh take on women juggling work, family and relationships, envisioned by the dynamic female-led creative team and brought to life by the incredibly talented Asher Keddie. Audiences around the world will relate to the authentic storytelling around the lives of these perfectly imperfect characters.”
Made Up Stories will produce the series in partnership with FIFTH SEASON, which will also handle international distribution. The companies’ producing partnership includes NINE PERFECT STRANGERS, WOLF LIKE ME and THE LOST FLOWERS of ALICE HART. This series has received major production investment from Screen Australia and BINGE and is financed with support from Screen NSW. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW.
STRIFE is commissioned by the Foxtel Group for BINGE and will also be available on Foxtel.
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About MADE UP STORIES
MADE UP STORIES is a development and production company that amplifies distinctive voices to tell unforgettable stories about the diversity of human experience, driven primarily by multifaceted females on and off-screen. Made Up Stories was founded in 2017, and is led by Bruna Papandrea, the award-winning producer of the critically acclaimed HBO series BIG LITTLE LIES (eight Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards).
On the television side, Made Up Stories premiered five series in 2022, including Netflix’s hit shows PIECES OF HER starring Toni Collette and ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL starring Sienna Miller and Michelle Dockery; the anthology ROAR for Apple TV+ starring Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Merritt Wever, and Alison Brie; the genre-bending romantic comedy WOLF LIKE ME starring Isla Fisher and Josh Gad for Peacock and Stan that is currently in post-production for its second season; and the Spectrum Originals women’s basketball drama LONG SLOW EXHALE, starring Rose Rollins.
They also executive produced their first unscripted series, UNDRESSED, for Paramount+ which was released in Australia in October 2022.
Recently, they wrapped production on the Amazon Prime Video series THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART, adapted by Sarah Lambert from Holly Ringland’s debut novel, and starring Sigourney Weaver set to release later in 2023. Made Up Stories also executive produced THE UNDOING, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, which was HBO’s most watched series of 2020, NINE PERFECT STRANGERS, based on best-selling author Liane Moriarty’s book, starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy, that premiered to great acclaim in August 2021 and immediately became Hulu’s most watched original series, ever, as well as, the hit Amazon Prime Video series TELL ME YOUR SECRETS created by Harriet Warner and starring Lily Rabe.
Made Up Stories recently produced the film adaptation of Netflix’s LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE, based on the novel by Jessica Knoll, starring Mila Kunis, and directed by Mike Barker, that premiered on October 7, 2022, and was the #1 movie globally on Netflix. Previously they produced the film adaptation of the inspiring international bestseller, PENGUIN BLOOM, directed by Glendyn Ivin and starring Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln and Jacki Weaver, that was released by Netflix, and THE DRY, based on the Jane Harper novel, from director Robert Connolly and starring Eric Bana, released by IFC. Made Up Stories will release FORCE OF NATURE: THE DRY 2 via Roadshow Films in Australian cinemas on 24 August, 2023, with Eric Bana reprising his role and Robert Connolly directing.
About FIFTH SEASON
FIFTH SEASON (formerly Endeavor Content) is a global leader in the creation, production, and distribution of feature films and premium television series. Known for producing and distributing award-winning content that engages audiences and moves culture, the studio’s film titles include 80 for Brady, John Carney’s Flora and Son, the multi-Oscar-nominated The Lost Daughter from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Bay’s Ambulance, Destin Daniel Cretton’s Just Mercy, the Book Club franchise, and 2022 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winner Cha Cha Real Smooth.
The studio produces premium TV series, including the 14 Emmy-nominated Severance, See and Truth Be Told for Apple TV+, Wolf Like Me for Peacock, Life & Beth, Nine Perfect Strangers, and McCartney 3, 2, 1 for Hulu, Tokyo Vice for HBO Max, and Scenes from A Marriage for HBO. FIFTH SEASON also handles global distribution for dozens of hit series in addition to its own studio productions, including Killing Eve, The Morning Show, Normal People, and The Night Manager. Learn more at FIFTHSEASON.com, follow us @FIFTHSEASON.
