A six-part drama about mushroom murderer Erin Patterson has been announced, with Yellowjackets star Melanie Lynskey set to play the convicted killer.
It will be the first scripted series covering the notorious case, in which Patterson was found guilty of murdering three people – her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson – and trying to kill a fourth – Heather’s husband, Ian – with death cap mushrooms in her Leongatha home in rural Victoria in 2023.
New Zealand actor Lynskey, who has been nominated for multiple Emmys, will be the executive producer for the limited series, which is created by Anya Beyersdorf (Fake, Apple Cider Vinegar), Daina Reid (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Deb Balderstone (Dustfall). Filming will take place in Victoria, with the Paramount+ series covering the 97 days between Patterson’s infamous beef wellington lunch and her arrest.
“There have been quite a few [scripts about the mushroom case] floating around, and that’s to be expected,” said Tamara Simoneau, Paramount Australia’s vice president of content. “When something like this happens, a story that the whole country is obsessed with, then the world became obsessed with it, it’s bound to end up in scripts and in writing rooms. We’re really thrilled with what’s transpired for us and the casting of Melanie, who we think will be excellent.”
Mushroom Murders was one of the headline announcements at the combined Ten/Paramount Australia upfronts event on Wednesday, which unveiled a slate heavy on local crime for the streamer, including a six-part adaptation of the 2019 podcast Who the Hell is Hamish? and a true-crime series fronted by Teacher’s Pet reporter Hedley Thomas.
In Who the Hell is Hamish? Dominic Cooper will play the convicted Sydney fraudster Hamish McLaren, who was jailed for nine years after he was convicted of stealing $7.66 million from 15 victims, including fashion designer Lisa Ho. Filming on the limited series wrapped on the Gold Coast this year.
Simoneau said casting international leads in two series covering high-profile local crime cases was more about name recognition than any reflection on Australian talent.
“Global recognition really helps to launch a project that’s Australian-made onto the global stage,” she said. “So if that’s how that needs to go, then it’s a really good play because it’s an Australian production, and it’s important for our stories and our productions to be given these global stages because they’re excellent.”
Also announced on Wednesday for Paramount+ was Sam Kerr Kicking Goals, a live-action series inspired by the Matildas captain that will follow her life as an 11-year-old footballer in WA and new sketch series from comedy group The Inspired Unemployed, as well as return seasons for The Last King of the Cross and NCIS: Sydney.
Network 10, meanwhile, unveiled what Simoneau called a “wall-to-wall program slate” across the year, starting with the return of Australian Survivor – replacing I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here’s traditional January spot – and new seasons of Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Cheap Seats, MasterChef Australia, Taskmaster Australia, The Traitors Australia and Shaun Micallef’s Parents’ Evening.
New shows include Australian Ninja Warrior, co-hosted by Robert Irwin, fly-on-the-wall series Dogs at Work, narrated by Melanie Zanetti, who plays Bluey’s mum Chilli and property shows Aussie Auctions and Extraordinary Shows Australia. Ten will also broadcast the FIFA Women’s World Cup from Brazil in July.
Simoneau also addressed criticism around the recruitment of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to the MasterChef Australia kitchen, where she will co-host the re-booted Junior MasterChef Australia series alongside Poh Ling Yeow.
“We do have Australians hosting Australian cooking shows,” said Simoneau. “But it’s a global format, and people watch MasterChef Australia all over the world, and it’s very successful all over the world. It’s an international success story. So why not embrace anybody who wants to be involved?”
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Louise Rugendyke is the National TV editor and a senior culture writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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