ABC orders US remake of Australian drama ‘Total Control’ with Universal & Keshet Studios

Total Control

ABC in the US has ordered a pilot based on Australian drama Total Control, with NBCUniversal-owned Universal Television and Keshet Studios attached.

The remake, known as Dark Horse, is being written by William Jehu Garroutte and has Jessica Goldberg (The Path) attached as showrunner.

Universal TV and Disney’s ABC Signature produce in association with Keshet Studios, whose parent Keshet International (KI) holds format and tape rights in North America. Rest of world rights are held by All3Media International, which snagged distribution last year.

Dark Horse will be based on the original political thriller Total Control, which was produced by Australia’s Blackfella Films for the ABC in Oz and is now moving into its second season.

It was co-created by, and stars, Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under) alongside Deborah Mailman (Mystery Road) and follows an Indigenous woman on an unconventional journey into politics as she deals a troubled past and her obligations to her family and to her culture.

Garroutte, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation who most recently served as a story editor on Stumpton for ABC, executive produces the US pilot alongside Goldberg, Keshet Studios’ president Peter Traugott, Keshet Media’s Avi Nir, KI’s Alon Shtruzman, Darren Dale and Miranda Dear of Blackfella Films, and star Rachel Griffiths.

Shtruzman said: “We are thrilled to see a property like Total Control – one that shines a spotlight on race and privilege – travelling to the US and evolving in this way.”