australian television information archive

An All-Star Line-Up Brings The Murray Whelan Series To The Seven Network

DAVID WENHAM leads an all-star cast in THE MURRAY WHELAN SERIES telemovies, due to commence filming for the Seven Network this Friday, October 31.

Based on the novels by author Shane Maloney, both Stiff and the second telemovie, The Brush Off, will be shot entirely on location around Melbourne – and represent a significant commitment by Seven to the city’s television and film production community.  BLUE HEELERS – now in its 10th season – continues to be the cornerstone of Seven’s plans to build on its production of television programming in Melbourne.

THE MURRAY WHELAN SERIES is one of three new drama projects on Seven next year.  Building on these television movies will be the miniseries on the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain, THROUGH MY EYES, and the development of a new 22 episode drama series, LAST MAN STANDING.

The Murray Whelan telemovies have been adapted for television by JOHN CLARKE (The Games, Crackerjack), one of Australia’s most successful screenwriters. CLARKE will also take the helm as director of Stiff.  SAM NEILL will make his directorial debut with The Brush Off, which will be filmed around Melbourne in January 2004. Award-winning designer Chris Kennedy (Dirty Deeds, Cosi, Death in Brunswick) and DOP’s Laszlo Baranyai and Ellery Ryan are working on the films.

WENHAM (The Lord of the Rings, Getting Square, Molokai, The Boys, The Bank) plays the lead role of Murray Whelan, a minder, fixer, general dogsbody and slightly crumpled advisor to a Government Minister.  Joining him on screen in Stiff are DEB KENNEDY, MICK MOLLOY, SAM NEILL, ALAN HOPGOOD, DARREN CASEY, JULIAN O’DONNELL, ROBYN BUTLER, TAMARA SEARLE and DENIS MOORE.

A contemporary blend of crime story, political intrigue, dry urbane wit and delicious laconic irony THE MURRAY WHELAN SERIES is produced by Ruby Entertainment and Huntaway Films for the Seven Network.

Huntaway Films principals are Jay Cassells (Perfect Strangers), John Clarke, and Sam Neill (Jurassic Park, The Dish, The Piano and Dirty Deeds).  Ruby Entertainment’s Mark Ruse most recently worked with producers Gina Riley and Jane Turner on Kath & Kim and also teamed up with producers John Clarke and Ross Stevenson on The Games.  Stephen Luby, the other half of Ruby Entertainment, worked with producers Mick Molloy and Greg Sitch on last year’s highest grossing Australian film, Crackerjack, and is currently working with Jimeoin and Bruno Charlesworth on the comedy feature, The Extra. Together, over the last 15 years Mark and Steve have produced a long string of comedy and drama programs, including Fast Forward, The Eric Bana Show, Full Frontal, Big Girls Blouse.

October 30, 2003
Seven Network Press Release