Nick Cave‘s 2009 novel The Death Of Bunny Munro is coming to our TV screens, after the Aussie music icon put pen to paper on a deal with Clerkenwell Films (The End of the F***ing World, Misfits) and Sky Studios to adapt the story into a six-part limited series.
The live action version of Cave’s darkly comic tale of death, grief and judgement has also attracted some serious industry heavyweights. Former Doctor Who Doctor Matt Smith (also known for his work in House Of The Dragon and The Crown) has signed on to play the titular Bunny Munro; a sex addict, door-to-door beauty product salesman and self-professed fuckboi who, following his wife’s tragic suicide, embarks on a wild father-son roadtrip across Southern England with his 9-year-old son, Bunny Junior,
Nick Cave reads from The Death of Bunny Munro
Smith will also executive produce the series, which is being adapted for the screen by Pete Jackson (Somewhere Boy – not to be confused with the Lord Of The Rings guy) and directed by Isabella Eklöf (Industry, Holiday). Cave himself will also executive produce.
“Finally, someone with the courage to take on this unholy tale,” the Bad Seeds frontman said in a press statement (via the Hollywood Reporter). “I am thrilled that Sky and Clerkenwell Films are bringing Bunny to life, in all his flawed glory, and I can think of nobody better than Matt Smith to play him.”
While in his own statement, Smith called Cave’s source material a “brilliant exploration of love, grief, and chaos. At its heart a deep, difficult, and tender story about a father and son, coping with loss and change”.
Apparently the series producers are on the hunt for a young actor to play Bunny Junior as we speak.
Filming is due to kick off in the UK next Aussie Autumn. No word yet on where we’ll be able to stream it down under once it drops, but we’ll keep you looped in.
Further Reading
Augie March and RVG Reimagine Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ ‘Henry Lee’
Nick Cave Lists 15 Favourite Songs from His Back Catalogue
Nick Cave Defends Decision to Attend King Charles’ Coronation
