ABC catches White Fever from Korean-Australian comic Ra Chapman

Ra Chapman and Chris Pang on the White Fever set

Australian public broadcaster the ABC has commissioned an original comedy series from Korean-Australian comedian and playwright Ra Chapman (Wentworth, Neighbours).

White Fever will air on ABC TV and stream on ABC iview in 2024, with ABC Commercial handling international sales.

The coproduction has received investment from the ABC and funding agencies Screen Australia and Vicscreen, and is being produced by Melbourne’s Black Sheep Films, Orange Entertainment and Unruly Production.

The series, which is currently being filmed in Melbourne, was developed by Chapman, who also stars, and Katherine Fry. It is written by Chapman, Michele Lee, Harvey Zielinski and Clare Atkins.

Alongside Chapman, the romcom features an ensemble cast of rising and established comedic talent including Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians), Greg Stone (Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries), Katie Robertson (Rosehaven), Harvey Zielinski (Deadloch) and Jillian Nguyen (Barons).

Chapman plays a Korean-Australian adoptee with a fetish for very hairy white men, which her friends brand as ‘white fever.’ The series follows her quest to reprogramme her libido as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, with some K-pop infusion and Australian cultural identity twists.

ABC head of comedy Todd Abbott said: “Everyone loves a romcom, but this one – from the phenomenal talent that is Ra Chapman – is so much more than just that. It’s sharp, smart, funny, fresh and plunges us deep into a unique world. Hearing this sensational cast read the scripts around the table made us laugh, cry and rethink so much of what we take for granted. I can’t wait to see it burst into life on screen and share it with audiences.”