Australian producer of Dustfall behind scripted series that explores case of Erin Patterson
Paramount+ in Australia has greenlit a drama from Dustfall producer Soapbox Pictures about the true story of Erin Patterson, who was found guilty of murdering three people by serving them deadly beef wellingtons.
Mushroom Murders has been created by Anya Beyersdorf (Apple Cider Vinegar), Daina Reid (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Deb Balderstone (Dustfall), with Yellowjackets’ Melanie Lynskey starring and exec producing.
Balderstone, Xavier Marchand (Dustfall) and Sophia Mogford are EP’s alongside Beyersdorf, who is writing all six episodes with Dustfall duo Dianne Taylor and Belinda Chayko. Reid directs and is also among EP’s.
The story revolves around the 2023 case involving Patterson (Lynskey), who served individual beef wellingtons to her estranged in-laws and their relatives at a lunch in her Victoria home in Australia.
Unbeknownst to her guests, Patterson allegedly prepared the food with highly toxic death cap mushrooms, resulting in the deaths of three guests.
The drama will explore the 97 days between the now infamous lunch and Patterson’s subsequent arrest.
Beverley McGarvey, president of Network 10 and head of streaming at Paramount Australia, described the show as “an ambitious series that brings a gripping real-life story, that captivated Australia and the world, to the screen with the scale, quality and creative vision audiences expect from Paramount+.”
She added: “It is a powerful addition to our growing slate of premium storytelling, and we are delighted to partner with such an exceptional creative team to share it with viewers around the world.”
The greenlight comes weeks after Queensland-based Soapbox saw its Anna Torv-starring drama Dustfall picked up by Apple TV globally. The series was produced for the ABC and the BBC, with Moonriver co-producing.
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