The Messenger

The_Messenger_Au_Cover

Screen Australia has announced it will provide production funding for an 8-part adaptation of Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel, The Messenger for the ABC.

THE MESSENGER
8 x 60 mins
Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Mystery
Director TBA
Writers Sarah Lambert, Kirsty Fisher, Kim Wilson, Magda Wozniak
Producers Jason Stephens, Sarah Lambert
Executive Producers Helen Bowden, Markus Zusak, Dominika Zusak
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales All3Media
Synopsis
Adapted from the award winning novel by Markus Zusak, Ed Kennedy’s life is one of peaceful routine until playing cards inscribed with cryptic tasks start to arrive in the mail. Choosing to care, Ed makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains - who’s behind Ed’s mission?

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Markus Zusak’s The Messenger adapted for the ABC

Production will begin in Sydney next month on The Messenger , an 8 x 60-minute uplifting drama series based on Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel of the same name. Produced by Lingo Pictures for the ABC with major production investment from Screen Australia, the series reinforces ABC’s commitment as the home of quality Australian drama that is reflective of contemporary Australia.

Featuring a cast of emerging Australian talent who are backed by an award-winning creative team, the series will star Helpmann Award winner William McKenna ( Nowhere Boys ), alongside Australian icon Maggie Dence ( Rake, Wonderland ), Alexandra Jensen ( Frayed, Amazing Grace ), Chris Alosio ( Troppo ) and actor, singer and songwriter Kartanya Maynard ( Deadloch ).

The Lingo Pictures’ production reunites the AACTA award-winning creative team behind the series Lambs of God, with the writing team lead by Sarah Lambert ( Lambs of God, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) and producers Jason Stephens ( Lambs Of God, Upright ) from Lingo Pictures and Elisa Argenzio ( Fires, New Gold Mountain, Lambs Of God ). Helen Bowden, Markus Zusak, Mika Zusak, Sarah Lambert and Daniel Nettheim are Executive Producers, along with Sally Riley and Rebecca Anderson from ABC.

Sarah Lambert is joined on the writing team by Kirsty Fisher ( The Family Law, The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart, Laid ), Kim Wilson ( Total Control, Wentworth ) and Magda Wozniak ( Bad Behaviour, Mustangs FC ).

Daniel Nettheim ( The Tourist, Line of Duty, Doctor Who ) is set-up director and Helena Brooks ( Wellmania, 800 Words ) and Jennifer Leacey ( The Secrets She Keeps, Frayed ) will also direct.

The series follows Ed Kennedy who is just another stupid human, until one day he isn’t. That day, he stops an armed robbery and becomes an accidental hero. The next day, he starts getting messages… Four playing cards – the ace of diamonds, clubs, spades and hearts. Each with their own set of tasks. Who’s sending them? And what the hell is a hopeless, cab-driving, guy like Ed meant to do with them? Ed has been chosen to care. He stumbles this mysterious path, helping and hurting, completing the cards, until he comes to see the real message has been for him. Being The Messenger has brought Ed back to life.

ABC Head of Drama, Entertainment and Indigenous Sally Riley says: “We are thrilled to be collaborating for the first time with the incredibly talented team at Lingo Pictures on this feel-good and intriguing series. Highlighting the importance and impact of human kindness, we look forward to sharing this captivating series with our audience next year.”

“This story is a tale of untapped potential that reminds us we are each in our own way remarkable. It’s about friendship and trying and falling down. It’s about unrequited love, bravery and getting back up. It’s about family and chosen family, but most of all it’s about the way small acts of kindness have huge ripples. The Messenger allows us to step into a world where human kindness and connection are the heroes,” says producer Jason Stephens.

Screen Australia’s Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon says, “We’re delighted to support this enchanting story from prolific Australian writer Markus Zusak brought to life on screen by the award-winning team at Lingo Pictures together with some of Australia’s best screenwriters. The Messenger promises to enthral audiences young and old with its poignant and redemptive tale of what it is to be human.”

“Screen NSW is proud to support Lingo Pictures as it brings to life the internationally best-selling book The Messenger by Sydney author Markus Zusak. Led with a strong cast and crew including a great writing team spearheaded by Sarah Lambert, who is teaming up with producers Jason Stephens and Elisa Argenzio, the eight-part series will call NSW home and showcase locations in Sydney and Lithgow to a wide audience,” says Acting Head of Screen NSW David Gordon.

The Messenger will air on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2023.

Production credit: The Messenger is a Lingo Pictures production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW and All3Media International is managing international sales.

Coming in 2023

Based on Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel of the same name, The Messenger, follows Ed Kennedy (William McKenna) – just another stupid human, until one day he isn’t. That day, he stops an armed robbery and becomes an accidental hero. The next day, he starts getting messages…Four playing cards – the ace of diamonds, clubs, spades and hearts. Each with their own set of tasks. Who’s sending them? And what the hell is a hopeless, cab-driving, guy like Ed meant to do with them? Ed has been chosen to care. He stumbles this mysterious path, helping and hurting, completing the cards, until he comes to see the real message has been for him. Being The Messenger has brought Ed back to life. The series stars Helpmann Award winner William McKenna (Nowhere Boys), alongside Australian icon Maggie Dence (Rake, Wonderland), Alexandra Jensen (Frayed, Amazing Grace), Chris Alosio (Troppo) and actor, singer and songwriter Kartanya Maynard (Deadloch).

A Lingo Pictures production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW and All3Media International is managing international sales. Producers Jason Stephens and Elisa Argenzio. Executive Producers Helen Bowden, Markus Zusak, Mika Zusak, Sarah Lambert and Daniel Nettheim. ABC Executive Producers Rebecca Anderson and Sally Riley.

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The ABC is thrilled to announce the uplifting eight-part drama series The Messenger will premiere on Sunday 14 May at 8.20PM on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.

The intriguing tale based on Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel of the same name, produced by Jason Stephens and Elisa Argenzio, stars a talented young cast including William McKenna (Nowhere Boys), Alexandra Jensen (Frayed, Amazing Grace), Chris Alosio (Troppo) and Kartanya Maynard (Deadloch).

Author and Executive Producer, Markus Zusak says: “I’m so excited to see this series on the ABC, and I think it’s something we can see ourselves in - our friendships and families, our laughter and flaws, and our willingness to see each other through, especially in the hard times. It’s got a big and beautiful heart. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

The Messenger tells the story of Ed Kennedy (William McKenna), who becomes an accidental hero when he receives mysterious messages scribbled on a playing cards that set him on a strange journey. But what he does with them allows Ed to change lives, most of all, his own.

Sometimes you just have to play the cards you’re dealt.

The Messenger audiobook is available now on the ABC listen app.

Production credit: The Messenger is a Lingo Pictures production, part of ITV Studios, production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW and All3Media International is managing international sales. Lingo Pictures is part of ITV Studios.

I hope it actually is uplifting because the last few dramas on the ABC have been very dreary and depressing.

Unfortunately it doesn’t come across that way. More mysterious and dark.

I saw the first episode last night and it was as you posted.

For many viewers like me who had not read the original novel, the two questions will be: who sent the cards with address and times to Ed? And why did the robber in the opening scene say “you are a dead man, Ed Kennedy”?

The series has been bumped to 9.30pm Sundays as of June 4, due to low ratings.

I watched the finale on Sunday night but couldn’t understand the ending. Was it really the old lady Milla (Maggie Dence) and the cinema usher who wrote the cards for Ed? And when Ed and his friends returned to the liquor store where the story began, why was there another card inside a white envelope (attached to the rear door of the removal truck) waiting for Ed?

I didn’t read the original novel so I didn’t know how much the TV series storyline deviated from the novel.

BTW, here is the cover of the novel’s TV tie-in version, which was released on March 28 this year.
9781761263811

Not Milla and not the usher. It was supposed to be the mysterious man who was involved in the liquor store hold up at the start who said “You’re a dead man Ed Kennedy”. The last envelope had “You’re no longer a dead man” written on it. Being left on the removal truck suggested there he had a link to Ed’s father who worked for the company.

There’s a lot of symbolism in this series like the removalist company was called Galahad. In the legend of King Arthur, Galahad was renowned for his gallantry and purity as the most perfect of all knights who went on a quest for the Holy Grail. Just like Ed Kennedy in this story.

In the novel, apparently there are a lot of suggestions that the messages are from God and that Ed is like Jesus, delivering his messages on earth. That didn’t happen in the series except at one point Ed thought he was the one sending the messages to himself but it was very vague.