A new drama from John Hinde Award-winning author Thomas Duncan-Watt has moved to the next stage of development with development funding from Screen NSW.
“Night Mover” is the story of 54-year-old Laurie Pearce, who starts a “night moving” business in a desperate bid to save a cash-strapped women’s shelter. It’s a dangerous and completely illegal service (inspired by the Japanese occupation of the same name) that removes people from the power grid in exchange for cold hard cash.
After developing the pilot during the 2024 edition of Screen Australia and Writers Guild of Australia’s The Creators, Mr Duncan-Watt partnered with Sydney-based boutique film and TV production company Thumper Pictures following Content London last year, impressing head of development Charlie Gerber and producer Morgan Hynd.
Veteran showrunner Alexa Wyatt (The Last King of the Cross), Stellar and Walkley Award-winning journalist Jess Hill (She What You Made Me Do), and writer/director Dee Dorgan (Here Out West) also join the creative team.
Gerber expressed excitement about collaborating with Duncan Watt, describing him as a “powerhouse.”
“When Thomas introduced us to The Nightmover at Content London, we immediately saw its potential. It’s a fascinating crime-adjacent procedural that delves into difficult and often hidden areas of Australian life,” he said.
“These are stories of hope and despair that play out on every street (no matter how green), and we need to see them reflected on our screens. Thomas is a powerful character, and we’re so excited to take him on this journey with him and the strong team of writers we’ve assembled.”
Duncan-Watt is represented in Australia by Sharn McGee of Liberty Artist Management.
