Tencent picks up ‘Miss Fisher’ adaptation

China’s Tencent has picked up a Chinese adaptation of Australian series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.

Originally created by Every Cloud Productions, and based on books by Kerry Greenwood, the initial series revolved around the personal and professional life of Phryne Fisher, a glamourous private detective in the 1920s.

Production has now begun in China on a Mandarin-language version set in 1930s Shanghai and will see actor Yili Ma take the lead role. The 30 x 42-minute series will air on the Tencent Network in spring 2020.

The adaptation is produced by Shanghai 99 Visual Company, which has partnered with Tencent Penguin Film and artist management company Easy Entertainment. Every Cloud’s Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox, who created the series, will serve as creative consultants to the production.

Jin Weiyi is the head writer and producer of the title.

“It’s such a thrill to be on set in China for the first week of production and to see Miss Fisher incarnated in the fabulous setting of 1930s Shanghai. The cast and crew here are wonderful custodians of the Miss Fisher brand and we look forward to a continuing successful relationship with Shanghai 99,” said Cox and Eagger.

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries has sold to 247 territories and upcoming feature film spin-off Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears will be released via Acorn TV in the US.

Spin-off series Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, a series of four telemovies set in the 1960s and following Fisher’s niece, screened earlier this year on the Seven Network.