Hot Picks: In Limbo

Scripted series In Limbo explores the issues of male suicide and mental health. Produced in Australia for ABC’s on-demand platform iView, the 6 x 30-minute series is a comedy drama that uses humour to shine a spotlight on what has become an escalating problem around the world – especially post Covid-19.

The story starts when Nate, a happy-go-lucky thirty-something with a good job and a loving family, commits suicide. His best friend Charlie is initially hit by a wrecking ball of grief. But grief turns to astonishment when the recently deceased Nate returns as a ghost. 

It turns out he is stuck in limbo and needs Charlie’s help in righting some wrongs before he can cross into the afterlife. As they embark on various adventures to undo Nate’s wrongs, Charlie grows closer to Nate’s widow, Freya, with their bond becoming a source of guilt.

Newen Connect senior vice-president of distribution, UK and North America, Phil Sequeira says the company got involved in the project early in its life cycle – around 2020/2021. It is, he adds, “lightning in a bottle”.

“Because of the pandemic, there was this rare situation where three of Australia’s top exports [lead actors Ryan Corr and Bob Morley and director Trent O’Donnell] were all at home at the same time. Putting them together with writer/creator Lucas Taylor and Tamara Asmar (co-writer) created a smart, funny, relatable series with a powerful message at its core about friendship, mental health and grief among thirty-somethings.”

Sequeira is convinced that the show will travel well because “it’s a theme that resonates across markets, but hasn’t been tackled very often on TV”.

He adds: “It’s a fresh take on the subject that would sit well on streaming or catch-up platforms – anything from Hulu in the US to iPlayer or All 4 in the UK. It’s one of those shows that is highly bingeable – particularly because of its half-hour format.”

In terms of the decision to tell a tough story through comedy, Sequeira says it is a proven way of helping audiences connect with difficult and emotive topics: “The likes of Sharon Horgan and Michaela Coel have shown that it is possible to tell painful stories in this way. A lot of it is down to the sensitivity of the writing and I think Lucas and Tamara have found the perfect balance with In Limbo.”

Strategically, In Limbo fits into Newen’s ambition to build up its presence in English-language content: “We have a lot of production labels in the UK already,” says Sequeira. “But we’re also interested in working with third-party producers. The significance of this show is that it is the first third-party English-language scripted series to come out of the gate at Newen Connect.”

The first series is due to air in the second quarter of 2023 and there will be plenty for buyers to see at Mip TV, says Sequeira. Looking ahead, he says: “There is definitely potential for it to return – though that is at the discretion of ABC. What I would say is that a second season of the show could lend itself to co-production. Freya, the widow, is of British descent, so the story could move in that direction.”