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The Lincoln Lawyer is a thrilling legal ride with an unlikely protagonist. The Netflix series is based on Michael Connelly‘s books and has also been adapted into a film starring Matthew McConaughey. The series follows an idealistic lawyer Mickey Haller as he works from the back of his Lincoln car taking on big and small cases in Los Angeles. The Lincoln Lawyer stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in the lead role with Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson, Angelica Maria, and Christopher Gorham starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the complex legal cases, thrilling courtroom drama, and compelling characters in The Lincoln Lawyer here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Goliath (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

Goliath is a legal thriller drama series created by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro. The...

Richard Roxburgh, star of hit Netflix show “Rake” and “Elvis,” stars in “The Correspondent,” a fact-based thriller. He portrays Peter Greste, the veteran Australian TV news reporter who was arrested and detained in Cairo in 2013 while reporting for Al Jazeera.

Production of “The Correspondent” wrapped in Sydney, Australia after being directed by Kriv Stenders, who enjoyed major success in Australia with “Red Dog” and also directed hit “Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.”

The film is based on Greste’s memoir “The First Casualty” and has an adapted screenplay by Peter Duncan. Greste is an award-winning foreign correspondent who, along with two of his colleagues, was reporting on the Arab Spring uprising. Days into his assignment, he became a pawn in a deadly game of ancient rivalries. Surviving an inexplicable nightmare with only his wits keeping him alive, Greste was sentenced to seven years in jail, but was released...

‘Spit’ is one of five features to receive a share of $4.6m (A$6.9m).

Australian filmmaker Jonathan Teplitzky is working on a sequel to his 2003 crime comedy Gettin’ Square – one of five features to receive a share of $4.6m (A$6.9m) in production funding from national body Screen Australia.

The latest round of funding will also support Kriv Stenders’ The Correspondent; Cathy Randall’s Red Rock Run; Kate Woods’ Kangaroo; and Nicholas Clifford’s One More Shot.

Teplitzky’s Spit will mark the return of David Wenham as ex-junkie John Spitieri, who travels back to Australia only to find himself...

‘Spit’ is one of five features to receive a share of $4.6m (A$6.9m).

Australian filmmaker Jonathan Teplitzky is working on a sequel to his 2003 crime comedy Gettin’ Square – one of five features to receive a share of $4.6m (A$6.9m) in production funding from national body Screen Australia.

The latest round of funding will also support Kriv Stenders’ The Correspondent; Cathy Randall’s Red Rock Run; Kate Woods’ Kangaroo; and Nicholas Clifford’s One More Shot.

Teplitzky’s Spit will mark the return of David Wenham as ex-junkie John Spitieri, who travels back to Australia only to find himself...

Netflix has secured the rights to Porchlight Films’ Operation Buffalo for across the Asia Pacific region, excluding China, with the spy thriller to stream from February 28.

Co-producer and distributor About Premium Content (Apc) has also sold the series to Belgium’s Rtbf.

The deals come after previous sales to Acorn TV in the UK and Eire, Upc in Switzerland; Rtp in Portugal, Nrk TV in Norway and Viasat World for Central and Eastern European territories.

Created by Peter Duncan and Tanya Phegan and originally commissioned by the ABC, Operation Buffalo turns the frightening truths behind British atomic testing in the 1950’s into a blend of espionage thriller and political satire set in the outback of South Australia.

The show follows Major Leo Carmichael (Ewen Leslie), an Australian Army Engineer and WWII hero tasked with keeping the top-secret nuclear base running smoothly. But testing the most dangerous weapon in the world...

Cate Blanchett-produced “Stateless” and Shannon Murphy’s feature directing debut “Babyteeth” dominated the nominations for the Australian Film Institute-Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts’ Aacta Awards.

Refugee drama series “Stateless” earned 18 nomination in the TV category, including best telefilm or miniseries, an acting nomination for Jai Courtney, and multiple screenplay and directing nominations. It was also nominated for editing, cinematography, casting and costume design.

The nominations race in the feature film segment was somewhat closer. “Babyteeth” was nominated in 13 categories, ahead of The True History of The Kelly Gang” with 12, and “H Is For Happiness” and The Invisible Man” with ten each.

Best film nominations went to “Babyteeth,” “H is For Happiness,” I Am Woman,” “The Invisible Man,”, The True History of the Kelly Gang,” and “Relic,” which was nominated in four categories. “Babyteeth” picked up four acting nominations for Toby Wallace, Eliza Scanlen, Ben Mendelsohn and Essie Davis.

Aacta has unveiled the final set of nominees for its upcoming awards, including the craft categories in television and documentary, as well as those up for the VFX, casting and the Best Asian Film awards.

Leading the charge in television is Matchbox Pictures/Dirty Films’ Stateless, which notched another 11 nominations today, taking its overall tally to 18.

Fellow ABC series Mystery Road, produced by Bunya Productions, follows with a total of 14 nominations.

Stateless helmers Emma Freeman and Jocelyn Moorhouse are both nominated for Best Direction in A Television Drama or Comedy. They will vie against Mystery Road‘s Wayne Blair and Warwick Thornton, and Simon Francis, who shot Anne Edmond’s Amazon stand-up special.

Thornton is a double nominee, also garnering recognition for his cinematography on Mystery Road, up against Marden Dean for The Commons; Martin McGrath for Operation Buffalo, and Bonnie Elliott for Stateless.

Nominated in the TV screenplay category...

Everyman Cinemas is co-producing the classic panto tale.

UK cinema chains Everyman and Showcase will give a theatrical release to Peter Duncan’s “guerilla-style” pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk, starting from December 4.

The performance was filmed on socially-distanced sets at the former Blue Peter presenter’s house during the summer.

It will receive a red-carpet premiere at the Everyman Crystal Palace at the beginning of December, before rolling out to all Everyman cinemas on December 4. It will then add Showcase venues – including the company’s Cinema De Luxe sites – from December 11, for a total of 55 cinemas.

Everyman Cinemas has also...

Acorn TV has bought the rights to Porchlight Films’ Operation Buffalo for the UK and Ireland, with distributor About Premium Content (Apc) also securing a range of other sales throughout Europe.

These include Upc in Switzerland, Rtp in Portugal, Nrk in Norway and Visasat World for Central and Eastern European territories.

Originally commissioned by the ABC, Operation Buffalo is written by Peter Duncan and produced by Porchlight Films’ Vincent Sheehan and Tanya Phegan, who co-created the series with Duncan.

A blend of espionage thriller and satire, the six-part series is set during the British nuclear tests in outback South Australia in the 1950s. Ewen Leslie, Jessica de Gouw and James Cromwell star.

On Sunday, the series was nominated for two early Aacta Awards, including Best Telefeature or Miniseries, and Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama for Leslie.

Apc participated in the financing of the project and holds worldwide distribution rights.

Peter Greste.

The arrest and conviction on spying charges and eventual acquittal of Australian-born foreign correspondent Peter Greste in Cairo in 2013 will be adapted into a feature film by Peter Duncan.

Pop Family Entertainment’s Carmel Travers will produce The First Casualty, based on Greste’s book published in 2017.

Now a professor at the University of Queensland, Greste spent more than 400 days in jail before being released after international condemnation and quickly became a champion of press freedom.

“It has long been our intention to develop projects across the breadth of film and television production and we are very pleased to bring The First Casualty to the screen,” said Travers, who launched her production company in 2017.

“It is a joy and privilege to be working with two great storytellers – Peter Greste, whose passion for truth-telling knows no bounds, and Peter Duncan, who writes with flair, imagination and wit.”

Duncan said:...

Exclusive: Australian production company Pop Family Entertainment has set Peter Duncan, the creator of long-running comedy series Rake, to adapt The First Casualty, Australian Journalist Peter Greste’s memoir which covers his time in prison in Cairo on terrorism charges.

Greste and two of his colleagues were arrested in Egypt in 2013 and convicted to multiple years in prison. Only after international pressure, and more than 400 days in a call, they were released, with Greste becoming a champion of press freedom around the world. The book covers his experiences as a foreign correspondent. He is also the recipient of awards including the Australian Human Rights Commission Medal, the Rsl’s 2016 Anzac Peace Prize, and the Australian Press Council’s 2018 Press Freedom Award.

“It has long been our intention to develop projects across the breadth of film and television production, and we are very pleased that The First Casualty can be brought to the screen,...

Jessica de Gouw in ‘Operation Buffalo.’

After starring in Network 10’s The Secrets She Keeps and the ABC’s Operation Buffalo, Jessica de Gouw’s career continues to flourish while many in her profession are idle due to the pandemic.

The London-based actress heads to Austria next month to start filming the second season of Vienna Blood, the British/Austrian murder mystery which screened on BBC2, PBS in the US, Germany’s Zdf and Austria’s Orf.

Adapted from Frank Tallis’ novels and set in 1900s Vienna, the series starred Matthew Beard as Max Liebermann, a doctor and protégé of Sigmund Freud. When Liebermann comes into contact with Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer), a detective struggling with a baffling murder case, he agrees to help solve the investigation.

In the show produced by Red Arrow Studios’ Endor Productions and Austria’s Mr Film, de Gouw she played Amelia Lydgate, a...

“Operation Buffalo” is a high-end series set in Australia in 1956, at the height of the Cold War. The action mainly takes place on a top-secret military base at Maralinga, in the Australian Outback, where the British are conducting atomic bomb tests, with the connivance of the Australian government.

The six-part show – a blend of espionage thriller, political satire and biting black comedy – features a top-notch ensemble cast, led by Ewen Leslie, Jessica de Gouw and James Cromwell. It was ordered by Australian broadcaster ABC, and is being represented in international markets by About Premium Content.

Variety spoke to writer-director Peter Duncan about the show, which world premiered as part of Series Mania’s ongoing digital edition (March 25-April 7).

What was it about the historical events – nuclear testing, the Cold War, Suez etc. – at the center of your story that inspired you to write the series?

Ever since I was 11, I...

‘Buffalo.’

Porchlight Films’ Buffalo, an espionage thriller set during the British nuclear tests in outback South Australia in the 1950s, will have its world premiere at Series Mania in France next month.

Commissioned by the ABC, the six-part series from writer-director Peter Duncan stars Ewen Leslie, Jessica de Gouw and James Cromwell.

Buffalo (formerly Fallout) and See-Saw Films’ The End, the assisted dying family drama created by Samantha Strauss for Foxtel and the UK’s Sky, will both screen in the International Panorma section.

In addition, Lingo Pictures’ Upright will play in the Midnight Comedies sidebar and Playmaker Media’s The Commons will screen in the International Showcase.

Blackfella Films’ Total Control will have its European premiere in special screenings, attended by Rachel Griffiths (who is serving on the international jury) and Darren Dale. Lingo Pictures’ Helen Bowden will sit on the international short films jury.

Set in 1956 at the...

Michael Carrington.

The ABC intends to ramp up digital-first content as well as reaching new audiences, including those who rarely if ever watch broadcast television.

“We look for content that works across multiple platforms to appeal to a multitude of people, from traditional broadcast audiences to viewers who have never seen a TV schedule,” Michael Carrington, ABC director of entertainment and specialist, tells If.

“Great content is great content, no matter how people watch it. Programs like Total Control and Killing Eve have attracted younger audiences on iview in addition to strong results on linear. So we are not just talking about increasing the volume of digital-first content but how we can better curate content between our platforms.

“Saying that, we need to meet the growing expectation of audiences for high-quality content on demand. That will mean a greater focus on enhancing our content and technology for digital audiences, from...

‘Stateless.’

The ABC’s 2020 programming slate unveiled today is packed with new documentaries and factual series – but there is a distinct air of déjà vu in the categories of drama and comedy.

No new commissions were announced in either genre, but that does not necessarily mean there will be fewer local dramas or comedies on screen next year, despite budget cutbacks.

Referring to the $84 million funding reduction over three years on top of cuts of $50 million a year since 2014, Michael Carrington, ABC director, entertainment and specialist, tells If: “To date, ABC management has found ongoing savings that will total about $17 million a year from next year.

“We’ve looked carefully at non-content related initiatives such as renegotiating third-party contracts. Management will also undertake reviews of our property portfolio and our acquisitions expenditure to assess where other savings may be made.

“It’s good progress but more needs to be done to meet our savings target.

‘Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge.’

Two climate change documentaries fronted by Craig Reucassel, a factual entertainment series which looks at public shaming and teetotaller Shaun Micallef’s expose on the effects of alcohol will premiere on the ABC next year.

Among the other highlights of the 2020 schedule unveiled today, Blackfella Films will chronicle how the Maralinga Tjarutja people overcame the 1950s nuclear weapon tests and WildBear Entertainment will deliver documentaries detailing threats to humanity and ground-breaking scientific advances.

Flying Kite Pictures and Sticky Pictures are co-producing the 10-part series Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors?, which sees children leave their modern comforts and spend 24 hours re-creating the lives of kids from another era.

Created and produced by Vanna Morisini, the series will celebrate the diversity of Australia’s shared history. At the end of each episode viewers will find out if the kids were up to the task.

Amanda Duthie.

Amanda Duthie has resigned from her role as the South Australian Film Corporation’s (Safc) head of production, development, attraction and studios to return to Sydney to pursue new opportunities and to be closer to family.

Duthie moved to Sa in 2012 to take up the role of CEO and artistic director of the Adelaide Film Festival and its investment Fund, and joined the Safc last October.

During her time with the state agency, Duthie worked to launch Centralised, a north-south creative collaboration in conjunction with Screen Nt and established the first screen agency partnership with Audible Australia. She also oversaw investment in Unjoo Moon’s I Am Woman starring Tilda Cobham-Hervey; Matchbox/Dirty Films ABC series Stateless; Porchlight Films/Peter Duncan’s ABC series Fallout and Sbs’s The Hunting, from Closer Productions.

After the departure of former Safc CEO Courtney Gibson, Duthie acted in the role until the appointment of Kate Croser.

(L-r) Ewen Leslie, Shaka Cook and Jessica de Gouw.

Production is about to begin on Porchlight Films’ Fallout (working title) for the ABC, a six-part drama inspired by the 1950s British nuclear testing that took place in outback South Australia. Written and directed by Peter Duncan (Rake), the project has attracted a strong cast including Ewen Leslie, Jessica de Gouw, James Cromwell, Ningali Lawford Wolf and Shaka Cook.

Fallout is set in 1956, at the height of the Cold War, when the Menzies Government has welcomed British atomic bomb testing at remote, ‘uninhabited’ Maralinga, in outback South Australia.

Leslie plays Major Leo Carmichael (Leslie), an Australian Army engineer and WWII hero, who is charged with keeping the base functioning smoothly. But testing the most dangerous weapon in the world is no easy task for Leo with a commanding officer (Cromwell) who is not fit for purpose; a new meteorologist, Dr Eva...

Peter Duncan has failed to make it through to the Tumble final next week.

The seven remaining celebrities competed in tonight's semi-final, in which they each took on the beam and performed a routine with their professional partner.

Actor Bobby Lockwood topped the judges' scoreboard with an impressive 68.5 out of 80. However, for the first time viewers were given the opportunity to vote, with the judges only accounting for 50% of the total.

Carl Froch and Duncan finished bottom of the combined scoreboard, leaving them to face head judge Nadia Comăneci in The Vault.

The Olympic champion saved Froch, praising his "more difficult" vault, "great execution" and "perfect" landing.

Speaking to host Alex Jones, former Blue Peter presenter Duncan said he'd had "such a great time" on the series.

Froch and Lockwood will compete against H, Amelle Berrabah, Sarah Harding and Lucy Mecklenburgh in the grand final.

The Tumble final takes place...

Tumble host Alex Jones has been joining in with trampolining training ahead of tomorrow night's show (August 23).

The presenter has clocked up some jumping practice as she is planning to open the show with an acrobatic routine alongside the series' ten professionals.

Producers are transforming the studio floor into a huge matrix of trampolines, and Jones is preparing an introduction that puts her at the heart of the gymnasts' performance.

Equipped with an empty plastic water bottle in place of a microphone, the One Show host was shown how to bounce high in the air, before controlling her landing. She was also coached on how to fall onto her back and bounce up on her feet again.

"Alex loves being part of Tumble and has been a great sport," said a show insider. "She is properly getting stuck in and definitely cranking her presenting duties up a notch.

"She has...

Loose Women presenter Andrea McLean has become the first celebrity gymnast to leave BBC One's Tumble.

The result was decided by head judge Nadia Comăneci after McLean took on former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan in the Vault challenge.

The pair faced the deciding challenge after finishing bottom of the leader board when scores from weeks one and two were taken into consideration.

McLean told presenter Alex Jones that she had "loved every minute" on the show. The ex-weathergirl battled through ankle injuries to perform her routine, winning praise from Comăneci for overcoming a mistake during the live performance.

Speaking after the result, Jones teased that the discipline next week will be trampolining. Other remaining stars include Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding, ex-Sugababe Amelle Berrabah, boxer Carl Froch and actor John Partridge.

Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins topped the judges' leaderboard with an impressive 31 points, while Dynasty star Emma Samms...

Mr Motivator has departed BBC One's gymnastics show Tumble.

The fitness expert and former GMTV personality dislocated his knee during a trial run of the show.

Mr Motivator, whose real name is Derrick Evans, will need to undergo surgery to correct the damage done to his knee.

Evans said that he was "devastated" not to be able to continue in what he describes as an "amazing experience".

"A heartfelt thanks goes to all the team but especially my gymnastics partner Kerry and coach Alberto, who have been so supportive and brilliant to work with - I'm sorry our journey has been broken this way," he added.

Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan will replace Evans, it has been reported.

BBC recently released the first cast photo for its upcoming primetime show.

Contestants include Sugababes singer Amelle Berrabah, EastEnders star John Partridge, and Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding.

Steps star...

Premiering after the Thursday airing of "American Idol" this spring is Fox's new legal drama, "Rake."  Greg Kinnear, in his first regularly scheduled television series, plays the lead, Keegan Deane.  Deane is a self-destructive lawyer who is utterly brilliant at his job but something of a disaster in his personal life.  The series is created by Peter Duncan and executive produced by Peter Tolan and Michael Wimer.  Sam Raimi directed the pilot. Check out the first gallery and episodic pictures from the series:...

While the anti-gay views of creator Orson Scott Card will do little to help Ender's Game, space adventure Gravity will be aided by cinemagoers' admiration for director Alfonso Cuarón

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The received thinking in Hollywood is that science fiction is a risky area of film-making. Nevertheless, studios continue to dip their fingers bravely into the danger zone like poor, doomed Peter Duncan in Flash Gordon. Perhaps it's the success of films such as Avatar, or the eternal popularity of Star Wars and Star Trek, but there seem to be more space-oriented movies around at the moment than there have been since the glory days of the 1970s.

Two teaser trailers hit the internet this week for two very different films, both with a futuristic bent but hailing from as far apart in the sci-fi galaxy as it is possible to travel. Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity,...

Jeremy Wade co. Icon Films

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By Kieran Kinsella

The British have always been great explorers. Perhaps it is because we inherited the genes of the Romans, Saxons, Normans and the many other invaders whose own curiosity once lead them to theses shores. Unsurprisingly, several modern day explorers and outdoor adventurers have made their way onto British TV screens. Whether you enjoy fishing, climbing or Arctic adventures there can be no doubt that the following folks are the 10 best British TV adventurers.

Jeremy Wade. Anyway who has to face dangers ranging from man-eating crocodiles to heavily armed fugitives in lawless parts of Africa is something of an “adventurer.” However, for Jeremy Wade these dangers are mere distractions as he is mainly focused on hazards such as electric eels, bull sharks and various types of fish...

Screen Australia has annouced development investment for 13 features, two animated shorts, two games and the completion of two shorts.

Projects include B Model, to be directed and produced by Rachel Griffiths, as well as new projects from the Spierig Brothers (Jungle), Bruce Beresford (The Fortunes of Richard Mahoney, co-production with China), Emile Sherman (Tracks) and Gregor Jordan (Five Spice)

Hannah Hilliard (Franswa Sharl) and Callum Cooper (Little Brother) were announced as the first recipients of the new Director’s Acclaim Fund, which recognises the importance of directors maintaining momentum following critical acclaim of their short film.

The projects are:

Features

B Model

Producers Rachel Griffiths, Louise Smith

Writer Samantha Strauss

Director Rachel Griffiths

Synopsis A young Australian girl gets swept up into the chaotic, exciting world of high fashion modelling. Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York. An innocent in a sex-soaked business, she is seeking love and validation, but isn...

The lineup of celebrities taking part in Let's Dance For Comic Relief has been revealed. Comics Jo Brand, Keith Lemon, Paddy McGuinness and Robert Webb and Dragons' Den trio Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne and Deborah Meaden will participate in the TV fundraiser. Also competing are children's entertainers Dick & Dom and former Blue Peter presenters Anthea Turner, Tim Vincent, Mark Curry, Diana Louise Jordan, Peter Duncan, Peter Purves, Janet Ellis and Helen Skelton. Each week the celebrities, who will perform solo, in duos and as groups, will be asked to perform iconic dance routines ranging from Saturday Night Fever and High School Musical to pop (more)...