Controversial Australian crime series Last King of the Cross has proven to be such a hit with international fans a second series has already pre-sold overseas.
Based on the life of Sydney identity John Ibrahim, the original ten-part drama dropped on Paramount+ last year.
The new series, now in pre-production, will be seen on Sky U.K., Warner Bros. Discovery, New Zealand and Paramount+ in Canada reports The Sunday Telegraph.
Based on Ibrahim’s bestselling 2017 book, the first 10-part season starred heartthrob Lincoln Younes as the Kings Cross identity and focused on his relationship with his brother Sam (played by Claude Jabbour).
Both men were prominent figures in Sydney’s nightclub district and the series explored key events in their lives, including John’s near fatal stabbing and other attempts on his life.
Controversial Australian crime series Last King of the Cross has proven to be such a hit with international fans a second series has already pre-sold overseas Pictured: Star of the series Lincoln Younes
The new series, now in pre-production, will be seen on Sky U.K., Warner Bros. Discovery, New Zealand and Paramount+ in Canada reports The Sunday Telegraph Pictured: Lincoln Younes a scene from the hit series
Based on the life of Sydney identity John Ibrahim – pictured – the original ten-part drama dropped on Paramount+ last year
The new 8-episode follow up is expected to take the story into the 2000s with Ibrahim expanding his ‘club empire’ at a time when the face of Kings Cross was changing under the influence of new drugs and alternative life styles.
Plot details are scarce, but producers have teased the drama will focus on John and his two younger brothers in their struggle to control the Cross ‘clubland’.
The sale of the fresh season was engineered by by Cineflix Rights.
Meanwhile, producer of the series of Mark Fenessey said of the show’s success:
‘This is not a side of Australia many would have seen,’ Fennessy explains.
‘A world within a world – I always saw it as an international story where Sydney was purely the location as opposed to it being a typical Australian story.’
No official casting for season two has been announced.
Younes, who was nominated for a Gold Logie, scored the lead role in season one after an exhaustive search spanning almost two years.
British actor Tim Roth, who scored an Oscar nomination for the film Rob Roy in 1995, plays fictional crime boss Ezra Shipman on the show.
The new 8-episode follow up is expected to take the story into the 2000s with Ibrahim expanding his ‘club empire’ at a time when the face of Kings Cross was changing under the influence of new drugs and alternative life styles Pictured: John Ibrahim (centre) with Lincoln Younes (at left) on the set of he Last King of the Cross
He replaced Deadwood star Ian McShane, who was originally cast in the role but had to leave the production due to health reasons.
The cast also includes Damian Walshe-Howling (Underbelly), Tess Haubrich (Alien: Covenant) and Matt Nable (Arrow).
The elaborate production involved building a full-scale re-construction of the Kings Cross ‘night club’ strip in western Sydney.
Award-winning writer-director Kieran Darcy-Smith helmed the crime-drama.
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