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Margot Robbie to produce female-led Shakespeare retelling on ABC

Oscar nominated Australian actress Margot Robbie is part of a team who will produce a new 10-part series which retells the work of Shakespeare from a female perspective.

Filming on the ABC project will commence later this year

The as-yet-unnamed project is a collaboration between Robbie’s production company LuckyChap Entertainment, Australian production company Hoodlum, Australia’s national broadcaster ABC and American-based ABC Studios International.

The program will be led by a female creative team, including writers, writer-directors and series concept creator Giula Sandler, and will feature 10 standalone episodes. Each episode will be based on a celebrated Shakespeare work, which has been updated to comment on modern society.

Robbie and Brett Hedblom from LuckyChap, Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield from Hoodlum, Keli Lee from ABC Studios International, and Sally Riley from ABC (Australia) are executive producers on the project, with Aran Michael from Aran Michael Management an associate producer.

LuckyChap Entertainment said: “We are thrilled about this Australian partnership as an opportunity to showcase unique, distinctly female voices in writing, and to demonstrate the high quality of the Australian film and television industry. The project will share diverse points of view, from writers representing the different cultures and areas within Australia, which many would not readily associate with works of Shakespeare.”

David Anderson, director of entertainment and specialist for the ABC said the broadcaster is dedicated to delivering high-quality relevant storytelling for all Australians.

“We are excited that this female-led team celebrates strong female creative talent, transforming traditional classic tales from a very different era into modern and culturally diverse stories.”

Hoodlum’s Tracey Robertson said the project will bring together leading and emerging female voices in Australian screen.

“We’re delighted to partner with ABC, ABC Studios International and LuckyChap on such an ambitious and exciting project. This is an incredibly original and bold approach for a television series and I can’t wait to see the stories that will emerge.”

The project will be produced in Australia, with filming anticipated to commence in late 2018. Disney Media Distribution will handle international distribution of the series outside Australia.

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