American streaming service picks up Tim Minchin series

Tim Minchin’s eight-part series Upright has been picked up for the US by streaming service Sundance Now, also available in Canada, the UK and Ireland.

Upright features Minchin as the shabby musician Lucky Flynn who travels across Australia to see his dying mother with nothing but a piano, when he meets a runaway who changes his life.

Minchin, who co-wrote the series, was one of its executive producers and music supervisor.

Upright was produced by Lingo Pictures, premiering in Australia on Foxtel and in the UK on Sky last December, both of which were among those who financed the series.

Minchin said: “The reactions to Upright in the UK and Australia have been like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I can’t wait for Americans to see it.

“It’s quintessentially Aussie and, at the same time, utterly universal.”

Owned by AMC Networks, Sundance Now is planning a screening at the ATX Television Festival in mid-July with a Q&A session, before the first two episodes screen on Thursday, August 6.

The deal was brokered by eOne director, US, international distribution Rosanna Canonigo.

In December, AMC revealed the combined subscriber count for their four niche streaming video services — Shudder, Sundance Now, UMC and Acorn TV — crossed the two million mark.

Shannon Cooper, VP of programming at Sundance Now, said, “With its brilliant mix of humour and heart, plus a spectacular setting and mesmerizing performances by Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock, Upright has all the elements to become a favourite of Sundance Now subscribers.”

Besides Minchin, Upright’s creative team included The Chaser’s Chris Taylor and award-winning writer-actors Kate Mulvany (Fighting Season) and Leon Ford (Offspring, No Activity).

The director was Matthew Saville (Please Like Me).