Margot Robbie, ABC Team Up for Anthology Series With Female Spin on Shakespearean Plays

Ten-part retelling of the Bard’s work to hit the small screen in Australia

Margot Robbie
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ABC and Margot Robbie are getting together to bring Shakespeare down under.

The Disney-owned network and Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment banner are teaming up for their first project with Australian production company Hoodlum and ABC Studios International: on a new 10-part series, retelling the work of the Bard from a female perspective.

A female creative team is taking point on the untitled project comprised of ten standalone episodes, each based on a classic Shakespearean tale that has been updated to comment on our modern, global society.

Hoodlum, LuckyChap and ABC Studios International will work with female writers and directors to adapt the Bard’s work, with series concept creator Giula Sandler guiding the project and penning one episode.

Robbie and Brett Hedblom are executive producing for LuckyChap, along with Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield under Hoodlum, Keli Lee from ABC Studios International and Salley Riley from ABC (Australia). Aran Michael from Aran Michael Management is an associate producer.

“We are thrilled about this Australian partnership as an opportunity to showcase unique, distinctly female voices in writing, and to demonstrate the high quality of the Australian film and television industry,” LuckyChap said in a statement. “The project will share diverse points of view, from writers representing the different cultures and areas within Australia, which many would not readily associate with works of Shakespeare.”

“The ABC is thrilled to be able to develop this locally produced drama in partnership with LuckChap Entertainment, Hoodlum and ABC Studios International,” David Anderson, director of entertainment and specialist for ABC, added. “The ABC is dedicated to delivering high quality, relevant storytelling free to all Australians. We are excited that this female-led team celebrates strong female creative talent, transforming traditional classic tales from a very different era into modern and culturally diverse stories.”

The project will be produced in Australia, with filming set to begin in late 2018. Disney Media Distribution will handle international distribution of the series outside of Australia.

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