Toni Collette Leads Apple TV’s “Lenni” Adaptation in Sydney

By Elena Vasquez

Toni Collette will star in and executive produce “Lenni,” an Apple TV dramedy with eight announced cast members. Production is underway in Sydney, Australia, according to Variety. The series adapts the Norwegian show “Pernille,” Variety reports.

What is “Lenni” about?

The series logline reads:

“Lenni (Collette), 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.”

The logline establishes a collision between professional casework and a chaotic home life, with Lenni fighting for other people’s families. Variety frames her as a child welfare worker, divorced mother of two and fighter for others.

The premise puts one new welfare case against an unsettled home life.

Who leads the cast?

Variety lists seven co-stars alongside Collette, and attaches a previous television credit to every performer named in the Apple TV casting announcement for the adaptation. The ensemble comprises:

• Ciarán Hinds (“Game of Thrones”)
• Dan Wyllie (“Love My Way”)
• Josh McKenzie (“La Brea”)
• Celeste Barber (“The Letdown”)
• Genevieve Hegney (“Colin From Accounts”)
• Arka Das (“The Airport Chaplain”)
• Wayne Blair (“Total Control”)

Collette heads an announced ensemble of eight, with seven supporting performers named.

Who is making the adaptation?

Variety reports that Sarah Scheller (“The Letdown,” “Strife”) adapts the Norwegian version and executive produces the series. Dearbhla Walsh (“Bad Sisters,” “Margos Got Money Troubles”) directs and executive produces. Collette joins them as an executive producer.

Made Up Stories and Keshet International produce the series. The NSW Government supports it through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund.

Variety names five further executive producers: Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Avi Nir and Keren Shahar. The “Pernille” creator Henriette Steenstrup also executive produces, alongside Bård Fjulsrud and Tanya Badendyck.

The support structure links the Apple TV project to a Sydney shoot, Australian state funding and the Norwegian original format, produced for Viaplay by Monster.

Collette stars, Scheller adapts and Walsh directs; those three roles anchor the new production.

What does Collette bring?

Variety identifies “Wayward” as a recent starring role for Collette on Netflix. She previously led “United States of Tara” at Showtime, and her television credits include “The Staircase,” “Pieces of Her” and “Unbelievable.”

Collette is a five-time Emmy nominee and a one-time winner for “United States of Tara.”

In film, she received an Academy Award nomination for “The Sixth Sense.” Variety also lists “Hereditary,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “The Hours” and “About a Boy” among her starring credits.

The announcement names five television series and five films, alongside one Academy Award nomination and an Emmy tally of five nominations and one win.

CAA, United Management, FINLEY Management and Jackoway Austen Tyerman represent Collette, according to Variety.

The stakes are concrete: one new welfare case, a divorced mother of two and a collision between work and personal life.