Miranda Otto Series ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’ Lands At The Network Alongside Scandi Drama ‘The Trio’

EXCLUSIVE: The Network, the free streamer founded by Aram Rappaport, has snapped up U.S. rights to two international drama series.

The service has picked up Thou Shalt Not Steal, which stars Miranda Otto, and Scandi drama The Trio. The Network operates a strategy of debuting one show at a time and has previously picked up shows such as Steve Coogan’s Chivalry and Esmé Creed-Miles-led The Doll Factory.

Thou Shalt Not Steal, which launches on October 6, is a coming-of-age, roadtrip, moralistic odyssey about the lies people tell themselves and each other. After breaking out of juvenile detention, Robyn (Sherry-Lee Watson) learns the father she believed was dead is not only alive, but that she must go meet him and return an old racing trophy – news and a task handed down by her dying grandfather. As she sets out across the hostile Australian outback on her unwanted mission, she steals a cab from Maxine (Miranda Otto) a former sex worker turned taxi-driver, teams up with a shyster pastor Robert Sr. (Noah Taylor), falls in love with his troubled son Gidge (Will McDonald), and races across the desert with cops in pursuit…to a reunion that threatens to leave her more alone than ever.

The series was created by Tanith Glynn-Maloney and Dylan River, who directed all episodes. It was originally greenlit by Australian streamer Stan and is produced by Bluey studio Ludo Studio and Since 1788 Productions.

“This story wasn’t made for mainstream audiences and algorithms. From the middle of the Australian Outback to landing on the other side of the globe, The Network feels like the perfect platform for this show to find a home in the USA,” said River.

The Network will also launch The Trio, a SkyShowtime original series, on November 17.

Based on the best-selling novel by Johanna Hedman and produced by SF Studios, the series explores the relationship of three young lovers as university students, both from the perspective of their youth and looking back from a distance. When middle-aged professor Hugo is approached by the daughter of Thora and August, he is immediately taken back 20-years to the memories of the luminous days the three spent together, and how it altered his life forever. As their daughter seeks answers to questions about her parents, she brings Hugo an opportunity to reclaim everything he lost.

It stars Rebecka Harper, Felix Sandman, and Seth Manteus. Written by Veronica Zacco, it was directed by Anders Hazelius.