Fox drops Oz comedy remake

US broadcast network Fox has pulled the plug on its adaptation of Australian comedy A Moody Christmas.

Fox commissioned the script for a half-hour pilot last year after a bidding war involving all four major US networks as well as some studios.

Trent O’Donnell and Phil Lloyd created the original, which aired on Aussie pubcaster ABC, for local prodco Jungleboys. They also wrote the script for the Fox pilot and a second episode.

The pilot was to be directed by O’Donnell and produced by Jungleboys in collaboration with Doug Ellin, creator of Entourage, and The Tannenbaum Co’s Eric and Kim Tannenbaum for CBS TV Studios.

The show follows a youngest son who thought he had escaped his dysfunctional family only to find himself trapped again. The US version would have featured many of the characters from the original.

Fox’s decision leaves the producers free to pitch the project elsewhere. The about-face follows the departure of Kevin Reilly as chairman of entertainment at Fox Broadcast.

Earlier this week 21st Century Fox veterans Gary Newman and Dana Walden were named joint leaders of a new division uniting 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Broadcasting Company.

Last year Jungleboys produced an eight-part sequel, The Moodys, looking at events that brought the family together.