Underbelly

Channel Nine and Screentime announced that the third series of UNDERBELLY begins principal photography today, (Monday, August 24) on location in Sydney.

UNDERBELLY: The Golden Mile is set in King Cross in 1989, where bent cops, straight cops, cool criminals and colourful characters all converged to make their mark. But by 1995 the Wood Royal Commission had put the “black empire” under threat of collapse as strong and honest police fought to take back control of the most infamous strip in Australia.

UNDERBELLY: The Golden Mile stars an ensemble cast including Emma Booth as Kym Hollingsworth, Wil Traval as cop Joe Dooley, Diarmid Heidenreich as cop Eddie Gould, Damian Garvey as detective “Chook” Fowler, and newcomer Firass Dirani as smiling teenage Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim, with further major cast to be announced soon.

The third instalment of the UNDERBELLY series will also feature a number of returning characters, including police played by Paul Tassone, Daniel Roberts and Dieter Brummer, plus Peter O’Brien (as the notorious George Freeman), Georgina Haig (as his wife Georgina) and John McNeil (as crime kingpin Lennie McPherson), who all reprise their roles from UNDERBELLY series two, A TALE OF TWO CITIES.

UNDERBELLY: The Golden Mile is written by the team behind the first two series – Greg Haddrick, Peter Gawler, Felicity Packard and Kris Mrska. Directors Tony Tisle and Shawn Seet, Producers Elisa Argenzio and Peter Gawler, Executive Producers Des Monaghan, Greg Haddrick and Jo Horsburgh also return to again deliver the high-quality, gripping Australian drama that critics and audiences have come to expect from this series.

Nine’s Head of Drama Jo Horsburgh, said “Underbelly is great drama and the making of this third series is proving to be just as exciting as the previous two. The Golden Mile is already shaping up in its promise to deliver entertaining characters and compelling stories that we have come to expect from the Underbelly brand. I can’t wait to see it come to life and for an audience to sit back enjoy the ride.”

Screentime’s Executive Director Des Monaghan said “Any series of Underbelly is an exciting and stimulating challenge for all concerned and series three, The Golden Mile, is no exception. Sydney’s Kings Cross in the ‘90s provided an appropriately colourful stage for an amazing gallery of characters and their often incredible exploits.”

10:30pm – Monday, July 20 on Channel Nine

While Carl Williams plots to murder Mario Condello, the last man standing, Mario is busy conspiring to kill Carl – unaware that his chosen gunman is a Purana plant. Meanwhile Purana detectives are working hard to convince Carl’s former hit team, Mr T and Mr L, now locked up in maximum security, to roll over and testify against him. At the eleventh hour Purana officers led by Steve Owen swoop on Carl’s latest crop of hired guns, then Mario, and finally Carl himself. Two murders have been prevented, the conspirators arrested and Carl taken off the street. After nine years the gangland war is over.

10:30pm – Monday, July 13 on Channel Nine

Young lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson’s relationship with Carlton Crew solider Lew Caine ramps up with the Zarah looking to a future with all the trimmings – house, kids and a new car. But domestic matters are not at the forefront of Lew’s mind. Reeling over the death of Benju, his close friend Lew lays the blame at the feet of the Carlton Crew.

With Mick Gatto in custody awaiting trial, that only leaves Lewis Moran and Mario Condello available as targets for Lew’s wrath. At Benji’s wake, a drunk Lew offers his services to Carl Williams. Not sure how serious the offer is, Carl is reluctant to hire someone he barely knows, let alone someone with no reputation as a gun for hire – and a Carlton Crew man to boot. Mouthing off about Condello and his Carlton cronies being Lew to the attention of other underworld figures, notably brutal thug Mr E and his sidekick Mr. S, who have already been commissioned to eliminate Lewis Moran.

Bang, bang! Lewis Moran lies dead on the floor of a Brunswick pub. And once again the Purana detectives cop a grilling from the clamouring media.

Having successfully carried out Carl’s assignment, Mr R and Mr S now change sides and head to Mario Condello, the sole remaining member of the Carlton Crew walking free, and offer their services to Kill Lew Caine. Does Mario know that Lew is going round town saying terrible things about him? Mario rejects the overture and goes into hiding. Fully aware that his life won’t be safe until Carl Williams is removed, he tasks his minder Tibor to find someone willing and able to take on the job.

Meanwhile, Steve and Garry and the Purana Task Force identify a crucial piece of evidence in the CCTV footage of Lewis Moran’s murder – evidence that points Mr E as the shooter. But it’s not exactly hard evidence.

Realising he needs back-up to carry out the Mario Condello hit, Lew Caine accepts Carl Williams’ recommendation and recruits MR E and his mate Mr S – unaware they have been actively seeking a contract to kill him. Lew and Mr E clash from the start. Tempers simmer until things explode and Mr E puts a bullet in Lew Caine’s head.

All dreams for her future destroyed, the devastated Zarah Garde-Wilson helps finger Mr E as her lover’s killer.

Mr E is duly interviewed by Steve and Garry and manages to incriminate himself over both the Lew Caine and Lewis Moran murders. A major win for Purana.

10:30pm – Monday, July 6 on Channel Nine

Young lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson’s relationship with Carlton Crew solider Lew Caine ramps up with the Zarah looking to a future with all the trimmings – house, kids and a new car. But domestic matters are not at the forefront of Lew’s mind. Reeling over the death of Benju, his close friend Lew lays the blame at the feet of the Carlton Crew.

With Mick Gatto in custody awaiting trial, that only leaves Lewis Moran and Mario Condello available as targets for Lew’s wrath. At Benji’s wake, a drunk Lew offers his services to Carl Williams. Not sure how serious the offer is, Carl is reluctant to hire someone he barely knows, let alone someone with no reputation as a gun for hire – and a Carlton Crew man to boot. Mouthing off about Condello and his Carlton cronies being Lew to the attention of other underworld figures, notably brutal thug Mr E and his sidekick Mr. S, who have already been commissioned to eliminate Lewis Moran.

Bang, bang! Lewis Moran lies dead on the floor of a Brunswick pub. And once again the Purana detectives cop a grilling from the clamouring media.

Having successfully carried out Carl’s assignment, Mr R and Mr S now change sides and head to Mario Condello, the sole remaining member of the Carlton Crew walking free, and offer their services to Kill Lew Caine. Does Mario know that Lew is going round town saying terrible things about him? Mario rejects the overture and goes into hiding. Fully aware that his life won’t be safe until Carl Williams is removed, he tasks his minder Tibor to find someone willing and able to take on the job.

Meanwhile, Steve and Garry and the Purana Task Force identify a crucial piece of evidence in the CCTV footage of Lewis Moran’s murder – evidence that points Mr E as the shooter. But it’s not exactly hard evidence.

Realising he needs back-up to carry out the Mario Condello hit, Lew Caine accepts Carl Williams’ recommendation and recruits MR E and his mate Mr S – unaware they have been actively seeking a contract to kill him. Lew and Mr E clash from the start. Tempers simmer until things explode and Mr E puts a bullet in Lew Caine’s head.

All dreams for her future destroyed, the devastated Zarah Garde-Wilson helps finger Mr E as her lover’s killer.

Mr E is duly interviewed by Steve and Garry and manages to incriminate himself over both the Lew Caine and Lewis Moran murders. A major win for Purana.

10:30pm – Monday, June 29 on Channel Nine

CARL WILLIAMS is beginning to believe his own hype. He takes to ringing talkback radio king DERRYN HINCH to debate him on the subject of Melbourne crime and corrupt police – and there’s no more corrupt cop than STEVE OWEN, he claims.

Still reeling from the death of JASON MORAN, the CARLTON CREW want the arrogant CARL taken down. But they feel like an increasingly impotent bunch of old men in the face of the WILLIAMS crew. Who will stand against him and his coterie of killers.

MICK GATTO summons his former protégé BENJI to a meeting and tries to persuade him to desert CARL and rejoin the CARLTON CREW, but although BENJI listens courteously MICK’S words seem to fall on deaf ears.

The violence shows no sign of abating as MICK’S oldest friend, GRAHAM “THE MUNSTER” KINNIBURGH, is gunned down in his front yard.

Deeply shaken, MICK GATTO summons CARL WILLIAMS to a meeting to lay down the law. CARL turns up supported by BENJI and both faithfully promise that (a) they know nothing about the MUNSTER’S murder, and (b) the killing is done.

Nevertheless the tension between the two camps remains at red alert level. CARL now puts the acid on BENJI – “I know GATTO’S your mate but if you want to prove your loyalty to me you’ll kill him.” The situation reaches a climax the day MICK invites BENJI to La Porcella restaurant for a coffee. “A coffee, buddy?” “Sure, champ, just a coffee.” The two men retire to the rear of the restaurant for some privacy. An argument is heard and then shots. MICK walks out alone. The most lethal of Melbourne’s hit men is dead – apparently an act of self-defence on the part of MICK GATTO.

When the news reaches Purana, STEVE, JACQUI, GARRY and the rest of the task force are gobsmacked. BENJI VENIAMIN is really dead? MICK GATTO has turned himself in as the killer? Gutted by the loss of his trusted lieutenant and friend, CARL WILLIAMS vows to see every last member of the CARLTON CREW in the ground. And ROBERTA’S grief at BENJI’S death is even more intense and bitter.

10:30pm – Monday, June 22 on Channel Nine

Carl orders a drug dealer named Michael Marshall murdered but the Purana Task Force are on hand To arrest his paid hit men. King Carl is confident he can get away with anything, so when a mate of an associate is murdered. He offers to avenge him by murdering the man his associate believes responsible, small-time dealer Michael Marshall. Once again Mr T and his driver Mr L are wheeled into action. However, the newly enlarged and resourced Task Force Purana install blanket surveillance on the gang and manage to arrest the gunmen – but only after the hit has gone down and the “horse” has been “scratched”.

Following on from the overwhelming success of the first two series of UNDERBELLY, Channel Nine has commissioned Screentime to produce a third series of the gripping Australian drama.

UNDERBELLY: The Golden Mile

Sydney, Kings Cross, 1989

The cops were bent and the crims were cool.  And together they ran the most exciting street in Australia.

Strippers, gamblers, gunmen, dealers, bouncers, bagmen – they all came to the Golden Mile.

A smart and sexy young Kim Hollingsworth, smiling teenage Kings Cross identity Johnny Ibrahim, the Bayeh Brothers, Trevor Haken, Chook Fowler…the Golden Mile was their playground, and they played like there was no tomorrow.

Then, in 1995, “tomorrow” came and the Wood Royal Commission cleaned out the Black Empire within the NSW Police.

But it left behind a mess that took years of mayhem to bring under control.

UNDERBELLY: The Golden Mile  is the story of the excesses of the empire, the collapse of the empire, the chaos that followed, and the ultimate victory of strong and honest police…seen through the eyes of some of the most sexy, charming, corrupt and deadly people of the time.

Jo Horsburgh, Executive Producer and Nine’s Head of Drama said, “I’m thrilled that we’re bringing a third series of Underbelly to the Nine audience. Once again this is a completely new story, with engaging characters who will thrill and entertain us. There are also some familiar faces from series two returning whose story continues into this series. I’m very excited about Underbelly 3, it’s shaping up to be one of the best yet.”

Des Monaghan, Executive Producer said “Here at Screentime we’re satisfied that the characters and stories we have identified for series three will deliver on high expectations of the Underbelly audience.”

Pre-production will start in Sydney shortly, with filming to be completed by the end of the year.

9:30pm – Monday, June 8 on Channel Nine

A major internal police investigation reveals corruption is rife in the Drug Squad. With officers up on charges, CARL WILLIAMS has his sentence quashed pending a review. Now a free man, he sets about trying to make up for lost time in the drug making game. CARL makes the decision to ramp up his profits by cutting inferior product into his drugs, selling twice the drugs for half the cost. But only CARL seems happy with the situation.

Ironically, JASON MORAN is released from prison about the same time as CARL, having completed his two- year sentence for the nightclub attack. Angered to see how big a player CARL has become, and suspicious about his role in brother MARK’S murder, JASON approaches BENJI VENIAMIN. How much to kill that fat boy CARL WILLIAMS.

Amused by this, CARL ups the price to have BENJI kill JASON. But old allegiances prove difficult to shrug off and BENJI decides to subcontract the job out. Notorious hard man VICTOR PEIRCE is hired and an execution date set – the anniversary of MARK’S death.

Knowing that JASON has a price on his head, and in an effort to avoid any further bloodshed, GARRY BUTTERWORTH goes to JASON with an offer. If he is willing to head overseas to relative safety, the police will allow his parole conditions to be varied.

JASON wrestles with a dilemma: when you have a reputation as an underworld tough guy the last thing you want is for people to think you’ve run away from a fight, but then you don’t want your kids to grow up without a dad either. With the CARLTON CREW’S blessing he decides to take his family overseas.

Unable to carry out the assassination he has been hired for, VICTOR PEIRCE tells BENJI he will do the job as soon as JASON returns. Naturally CARL is annoyed at the hit man’s refusal to hand back his fee. His exasperation is misread by BENJI. Taking matters into his own hands, he shoots down PEIRCE in cold blood.

Next on the hit list is drug dealer NIK RADEV who’s been complaining about the poor quality of drugs CARL is supplying. Bang bang! BENJI and a second gunman working for CARL, a psychotic known as MR T, kill him in a drive-by shooting.

The growing list of bodies, the media uproar and the public’s concern prompts the police hierarchy to form Task Force Purana. STEVE, JACQUI, GARRY and their homicide teams are drafted into it. Finally they have a chance to take the fight to the underworld head on.

9:30pm – Monday, June 8 on Channel Nine

Despite the protests of both the Purana Task Force and his family, JASON MORAN returns to Australia. The pull of kith and kin is greater than the fear of a violent death that may be waiting for him in Melbourne.

Despite inadequate resources and funding Purana manages to turn up the heat on hit man BENJI VENIAMIN, the major suspect in a series of killings. STEVE and JACQUI are determined to prevent him adding JASON to his list of victims. So when Carl asks BENJI to take out JASON he has to reluctantly say no – under 24/7 police surveillance his hands are tied. CARL turns instead to the psychotic MR T who welcomes the task.

Meanwhile JASON busies himself collecting cash to finance a hit on CARL. Of course Purana know what he’s up to and they set about trying to disrupt his cash flow. To this end they arrest LEWIS MORAN in a drug raid.

And while JASON is building up his war chest MR T is stalking him, looking for an opportunity to strike. More by good luck than good planning, JASON somehow avoids getting shot down in the street.

But one fateful Saturday morning JASON’S luck runs out. While attending a junior Aussie Rules football clinic he and his mate are blown away in their van by MR T in front of a crowd of parents and kids. The entire community is shocked and outraged.

Responding to community and media pressure, the state government gets behind Task Force Purana and gives it the extra manpower and resources needed to clean up Melbourne’s streets.

It is no consolation for the devastated LEWIS MORAN. Earmarked as a possible next victim, he is forbidden to go to his son’s funeral.

A broken man, LEWIS stays in his cell and grieves alone.

Vengeance done, CARL WILLIAMS celebrates his daughter’s christening with a lavish party at Crown Casino. In reality the occasion doubles as his coronation. All hail the new king of the Melbourne underworld.

10:30pm – Tuesday, June 2 on Channel Nine

Carl orders a drug dealer named Michael Marshall murdered but the Purana Task Force are on hand to arrest his paid hit men.

King Carl is confident he can get away with anything, so when a mate of an associate is murdered he offers to avenge him by murdering the man his associate believes responsible, small-time dealer Michael Marshall. Once again Mr T and his driver Mr L are wheeled into action. However, the newly enlarged and resourced Task Force Purana install blanket surveillance on the gang and manage to arrest the gunmen – but only after the hit has gone down and the “horse” has been “scratched”.