ITV has acquired Sunny Nights, an Australian crime-tinged comedy led by Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden, for its streaming service ITVX, with a UK premiere planned for 2026. The eight-part series follows American siblings Martin and Vicki Marvin, who relocate to Sydney to build a spray tan business and instead slide into the city’s criminal underworld. Directed and executive produced by Trent O’Donnell, the show was produced by Jungle Entertainment with Echo Lake, and is being sold internationally by Cineflix Rights. The project was showcased at this year’s Berlinale Series Market Selects, signaling ambitions beyond its home territory.
Filmed in New South Wales, Sunny Nights pairs Forte and Carden as a strait-laced brother and a more impulsive sister trying to stay solvent, out of jail and alive while juggling dubious partners and escalating debts. Supporting roles include Rachel House, Jessica De Gouw and Ra Chapman, with additional casting drawn from Australian talent and cameos tied to the story’s underworld milieu. Earlier materials highlighted the show’s 8×60 format and a tone that blends caper stakes with character-driven humor.
The UK pickup extends a run of international interest in premium comedy-drama from Australia and aligns with ITV’s focus on stocking ITVX with distinctive imports in advance of the 2026 pipeline. Packaging details indicate creator credits for Nick Keetch and Ty Freer, with a writers room that includes Marieke Hardy and Lally Katz. Early loglines point to episodic scrapes involving a ruthless creditor and harebrained side hustles, while the siblings’ fish-out-of-water dynamic anchors the throughline.
The series first drew attention when casting was announced for Australian streamer Stan, positioning the title to travel on the back of its U.S. leads and O’Donnell’s track record in comedy. The UK sale arrives as distributors emphasize cross-border comedy with crime hooks, and as platforms seek English-language originals with built-in exportable elements. According to trade reporting, ITVX will host the show’s domestic debut following its Australian rollout.
