Apple TV has announced production on Lenni, a new comedy-drama starring Academy Award nominee Toni Collette, adapting the Norwegian series Pernille for filming in Sydney, FilmInk reported. The series centers on Lenni, a divorced child welfare worker and mother of two whose chaotic family life collides with a high-stakes new case.
Directed by Emmy and BAFTA Award winner Dearbhla Walsh and adapted by Sarah Scheller, the eight-episode season is currently filming in Sydney with support from the NSW Government through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund, Apple TV confirmed. The Futon Critic corroborated the production details, noting the series blends dark comedy with a mystery about family.
Toni Collette Leads Cast Joining Ciarán Hinds and Celeste Barber
Collette stars as Lenni, the social worker who spends her days fighting for other people’s families while her own remains in “hilarious chaos,” according to the Apple TV announcement. Joining her are Ciarán Hinds (Game of Thrones), Dan Wyllie (Love My Way), Josh McKenzie (La Brea), Celeste Barber (The Letdown), Genevieve Hegney (Colin From Accounts), Arka Das (The Airport Chaplain), and Wayne Blair (Total Control).
Dearbhla Walsh and Sarah Scheller Adapt Henriette Steenstrup’s “Pernille”
The series adapts Pernille, created by Norwegian writer Henriette Steenstrup and produced by Monster for Viaplay. Steenstrup serves as an executive producer on Lenni alongside Bård Fjulsrud and Tanya Badendyck, bringing the original creative vision to the Apple TV adaptation, FilmInk reported.
Walsh, known for Bad Sisters and Margo’s Got Money Troubles, directs, while Scheller, whose credits include The Letdown and Strife, handles the adaptation. The project is produced by Made Up Stories (Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing) and Keshet International (Homeland, Suspicion) for Apple TV.
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Bruna Papandrea and Toni Collette Executive Produce Alongside Creative Team
Executive producers include Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Avi Nir, Keren Shahar, Scheller, Walsh, and Collette, according to Apple TV. The production marks another international adaptation for the streamer, which launched globally on November 1, 2019, and has since accumulated 924 award wins and 3,904 nominations across its original programming, The Futon Critic noted.
Steenstrup Confirms Co-Production Roles
When does “Lenni” premiere on Apple TV?
Apple TV has not announced a release date for Lenni. Production is currently underway in Sydney, but no premiere window has been confirmed by the streamer.
Family is a full-time job. Production is underway on a new comedy drama series starring Toni Collette as Lenni, a divorced social worker navigating the chaos of family life, both at work and at home.#Lenni — Coming to Apple TV pic.twitter.com/NAtvjNs0hg
Where can I watch the original Norwegian series “Pernille”?
Pernille was produced by Monster for Viaplay, the Nordic streaming service.
Who created “Pernille”?
Henriette Steenstrup created the original Norwegian series Pernille and serves as an executive producer on the Apple TV adaptation Lenni.
Toni Collette will star in #Lenni, a new comedy-drama series, with filming currently underway in Australia. The #AppleTV series follows a divorced social worker who, after a family tragedy, tries to protect her loved ones from the rough-and-tumble of life. pic.twitter.com/r1a9RFY3dg
The series joins Apple TV’s growing slate of international co-productions as the platform continues expanding its original programming beyond U.S.-based productions, though the streamer has not yet revealed when Lenni will become available to subscribers.
Toni Collette to Lead Apple TV Dramedy 'Lenni' https://t.co/1JJQSDt2Ft
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