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Toni Collette leads Apple TV comedy with major Australian cast
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
New details confirm that Ciarán Hinds, Dan Wyllie, Josh McKenzie, Celeste Barber, Genevieve Hegney, Arka Das and Wayne Blair will join Toni Collette in Apple TV’s dramedy *Lenni*. Production is under way in Sydney, adding a substantial Australian cast to the adaptation of Norwegian series *Pernille*.
Collette plays Lenni, a divorced mother of two and child welfare worker whose work supporting other families collides with the comic chaos at home. Sarah Scheller is adapting the series and Dearbhla Walsh is directing; both, along with Collette, are executive producers. Made Up Stories and Keshet International are producing, with support from Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund.
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In short
- Seven Australian actors join Toni Collette in *Lenni*.
- The Apple TV dramedy is filming in Sydney.
- The series adapts Norwegian show *Pernille*.
How this story developed
- 52 minutes ago Production was reported as having begun in Sydney, with the series’ premise, cast and creative team reaffirmed.
- 1 hour ago A seven-actor Australian supporting cast was confirmed, and Sarah Scheller and Dearbhla Walsh joined Collette as executive producers.
- 1 hour ago Toni Collette was set to star in Apple TV dramedy Lenni, adapted from Norway’s Pernille, with filming under way in Sydney.
Full account
Toni Collette is set to lead Lenni, a new Apple TV comedy-drama now filming in Sydney. The series adapts the Norwegian show Pernille, also known as Pørni, and centres on a divorced mother of two who works in child welfare. Its premise places her in the position of supporting other families while navigating disorder in her own life.
The published logline describes the season as following Lenni through a new case whose pressures bring her work and personal life into collision. One report additionally characterises the story as a darkly comic mystery about family and says Lenni is responding to a family tragedy. The supplied accounts do not give further detail about the case or the tragedy.
The Australian cast includes Ciarán Hinds, Dan Wyllie, Josh McKenzie, Celeste Barber, Genevieve Hegney, Arka Das and Wayne Blair. Sarah Scheller is adapting the original series, with Dearbhla Walsh directing. Both are executive producers, as is Collette, alongside producers from Made Up Stories and Keshet International and members of Pernille’s creative team, including its creator Henriette Steenstrup.
Made Up Stories and Keshet International are producing Lenni, with support from the New South Wales Government through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund. Collette’s screen credits include United States of Tara, Wayward, The Staircase and Pieces of Her; she has also appeared in films including The Sixth Sense and Hereditary. The sources describe her as an Emmy winner, though they differ in the career details they choose to highlight.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The reports broadly agree on the premise, cast, production location and principal creative team. Source 1 says production is underway; Source 2 says it has started; Source 3 says the show is currently being shot in Sydney.
Source 3 adds that Lenni is a darkly comedic mystery and links the character’s story to a family tragedy. That detail and framing do not appear in Sources 1 and 2, whose descriptions focus on the child welfare case and the chaos of Lenni’s family life.
Source 3 gives background on Pernille’s five-season run and its distribution between Viaplay and Netflix. Sources 1 and 2 do not provide that history. Source 1 supplies a fuller account of Collette’s awards and film career, while Source 2 emphasises more of her recent television work.
Explained simply
Lenni is an Australian adaptation of the Norwegian series Pernille, a comedy-drama about family life and caring for others. Toni Collette plays Lenni, a divorced mother of two who works in child welfare, helping families facing difficulties.
The series brings together Australian performers and an international production team. It is produced by Made Up Stories and Keshet International, with support from the New South Wales government’s screen production fund.
Coverage · 3 sources
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Variety as “Toni Collette to Lead Apple TV Dramedy ‘Lenni’ Based on Norwegian Format”.