Toni Collette To Star In TV Adaptation Of Norwegian Dramedy ‘Pernille’ For Apple

The Hereditary star is fronting Lenni, a comedy drama based on Norwegian series Pernille, also known locally as Pørni.

The streamer has greenlit the series from Nine Perfect Strangers producer Made Up Stories and Homeland producer Keshet International.

Lenni follows a divorced social worker who, after a family tragedy, tries to protect her loved ones from the rough-and-tumble of life. Per the logline, the series is a darkly comedic mystery about family – what it means to have one, to lose one, to pull one apart. Lenni, a child welfare worker and divorced mother of two, spends her days fighting for other people’s families while her own is in a constant state of hilarious chaos. The season follows Lenni through a new case, where the stakes couldn’t be higher as her work and personal life collides.

It also stars Ciarán Hinds, Dan Wyllie, Josh McKenzie, Celeste Barber, Genevieve Hegney, Arka Das and Wayne Blair.

Lenni is based on Pernille, which was created by Henriette Steenstrup. The original ran for three seasons on Viaplay with its final two seasons airing on Netflix.

Lenni is directed by Bad Sisters’ Dearbhla Walsh and adapted by Sarah Scheller (Strife). It is currently being shot in Sydney, Australia, supported by Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund.

Exec producers include Collette, Scheller, Walsh, Steenstrup, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Avi Nir, Keren Shahar, Bård Fjulsrud and Tanya Badendyck.

Collette is represented by CAA, United Management, Finley Management and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.