Toni Collette to Lead Apple TV Dramedy ‘Lenni’

Apple TV‘s latest series is going to opposite ends of the Earth for its inspiration and physical location.

The streamer has picked up a dramedy called Lenni, with Toni Collette playing the title character. The series is based on a critically acclaimed Norwegian show, Pernille, and has started production in Australia, almost literally the other side of the world.

In Lenni, Emmy winner Collette (United States of Tara, Wayward) will play a child welfare worker and divorced mother of two kids who “spends her days fighting for other people’s families while her own is in a constant state of hilarious chaos,” the logline reads. “The season follows Lenni through a new case, where the stakes couldn’t be higher as her work and personal life collides.”

The cast also includes Ciarán Hinds, Dan Wyllie, Josh McKenzie, Celeste Barber, Genevieve Hegney, Arka Das and Wayne Blair.

Made Up Stories and Keshet International are producing Lenni. Sarah Scheller (Strife, The Letdown) is adapting the Norwegian series, and Dearbhla Walsh (Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Bad Sisters) is directing. They executive produce with Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky and Katie Amos of Made Up Stories, Avi Nir and Keren Shahar of Keshet International, and Collette. Also exec producing are Pernille creator Henriette Steenstrup, Bård Fjulsrud and Tanya Badendyck.

Collette starred in Mae Martin’s Wayward on Netflix last year. Her other recent series credits include The Power at Prime Video, The Staircase at HBO Max and Pieces of Her at Netflix. She is repped by CAA, United Management, Finley Management and Jackoway Austen.