Solly McLeod and Katie Leung will join Richard Roxburgh and Robin Malcolm to lead the cast of the Australian-Scottish co-production Stan series Careless.
The four-part series is produced by Easy Tiger Productions and Synchronicity Films and is currently filming in Sydney and Glasgow. Channel 4 in the UK has pre-purchased the series, with All3Media International handling international rights.
Created by Helen Fitzgerald and Louise Fox, the drama follows Scottish backpacker Robbie (McLeod) who wanders into Sydney and decides to become a live-in carer for Mike (Roxburgh), a notorious rock and roll legend who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. To his delight, he passed the interview and got the job.
However, as she grows closer to Mike, she also grows closer to Mike’s wife Angela (Malcolm) and becomes Mike and Angela’s best friend. As Robbie becomes more integrated into their relationship, it becomes clear that there is something in Robbie’s past that could put Mike and Angela in grave danger.
The cast also includes Mabel Lee, Thomas Weatherall, and Alison Peebles.
Careless by Robin Malcolm and Richard Roxburgh.
Angela Littlejohn will serve as producer, with Easy Tiger’s Ian Collie and Rob Gibson, and Synchronicity’s Claire Mandel and Deanne Cunningham serving as executive producers. Directed by Stevie Cruz-Martin from a script by Fox and Christian White.
“From the germ of the idea over a London lunch with author Helen Fitzgerald to its evolution as a compelling psychosexual thriller, it has been our privilege and pleasure to support the talented writing team of Lou Fox and Christian White, and the incredible direction of Stevie Cruise-Martin and her talented cast and crew,” Corrie and Gibson said in a joint statement.
Mandel, whose company previously produced “The Cry” in Australia, said “Careless” is “exactly the type of bold, emotionally complex storytelling that Synchronicity is passionate about.”
“And it’s a co-production with Australia, our favorite region! Louise and Helen have created a provocative, character-driven thriller that asks tough questions about power, intimacy and trust. We’re thrilled to be able to bring it to the screen with such great creative partners.”
Katie Leung.
The major production investment will be made through Screen Scotland’s Broadcast Content Fund and Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Television Drama Fund, with the series expected to create more than 450 jobs in the state.
Michael Healy and Andy Ryan are executive producers on Stan and created Screen Scotland with Kieren Hannigan. Polly Scates has bought the Channel 4 series.
