Toni Collette to lead Australian adaptation of Norwegian drama Pernille for Apple TV

Australian actor Toni Collette is to star in an adaptation of Norwegian comedy-drama series Pernille (Pørni) for Apple TV.

Toni Collette

Apple TV

Produced by Made Up Stories and Keshet International, Apple TV’s version will be called Lenni and will follow a divorced social worker (Collette) who, after a family tragedy, tries to protect her loved ones from the rough-and-tumble of life.

Lenni is directed by Dearbhla Walsh (Bad Sisters) and adapted by Sarah Scheller (The Letdown). Production is currently underway in Sydney, supported by the New South Wales government through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund.

Joining Collette in the cast are Ciarán Hinds (Game of Thrones), Dan Wyllie (Love My Way), Josh McKenzie (La Brea), Celeste Barber (The Letdown), Genevieve Hegney (Colin From Accounts), Arka Das (The Airport Chaplain) and Wayne Blair (Total Control).

Collette, Walsh and Scheller exec produce with Made Up Stories founder Bruna Papandrea, chief operating officer Steve Hutensky and head of Australian production Katie Amos, as well as Keshet Media CEO Avi Nir and Keshet International CEO Keren Shahar. Henriette Steenstrup, the creator of the original Pernille series, also exec produces alongside Bård Fjulsrud and Tanya Badendyck.

Pernille ran for five seasons between 2021 and 2025. It was produced by Monster for Viaplay.