EXCLUSIVE: The Walsh Sisters are headed to Australia. The upcoming series, based on the Irish author Marian Keyes’ bestselling novels, has sold to Australian streamer Stan.
Cineflix Rights is handling international sales and the deal with Stan marks the first big pre-sale for the series. The Walsh Sisters was commissioned by Irish pubcaster RTÉ in association with the BBC. Given the number of books that Keyes’ novels about the siblings and their family have shifted, the series is eagerly awaited.
The timing of the Stan deal is fortuitous with Keyes currently in Australia on a book tour. “Australian readers have always been huge supporters of my novels, in particular those about the Walsh Sisters and there’s such a treat in store for you,” she said.
Filming of the Irish drama series took place in Dublin and has just wrapped. As well as news of the Australian deal, Deadline can share an exclusive first picture from the series. It shows Caroline Menton as Rachel, Danielle Galligan as Claire, Stefanie Preissner as Maggie, Máiréad Tyers as Helen and Louisa Harland as Anna. They are pictured outside the Walsh family home.
Keyes was on set when Deadline paid a visit recently and the author has seen filming first-hand. Speaking about the cast, she said: “Individually and collectively the five young women playing the sisters astonished me. Each separately embodies the characters in my head, right down to tiny aspects of their body language; collectively their chemistry is magnificent – their warm, bickery engagement feels just like a family.”
Marian Keyes, bestselling author
Dean Chalkley
Cuba Pictures, which was recently acquired by Vice per Deadline’s scoop, and Metropolitan Pictures produce the series. Ian Fitzgibbon directs all eps from Preissner and Kefi Chadwick’s scripts.
Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie said: “With Ian Fitzgibbon at the helm, alongside such a talented cast, we’re confident the series will capture Marian’s sharp wit and her heartwarming characters that have captivated readers for decades, and we look forward to introducing her storytelling to a whole new audience through this adaptation.”
Chris Bluett, SVP Sales, Asia Pacific, Cineflix Rights, brokered the Stan deal. “Marian’s novels have millions of readers all over the world and we’re looking forward to more deals shortly as we roll the series out internationally to buyers,” said Greg Johnson, the distributor’s EVP, Americas and Asia Pacific.
