Production gets underway this week around the south of England on The Death of Bunny Munro, starring Matt Smith.

The 6 x 60’ drama, for delivery to Sky Atlantic, is based on the novel by Nick Cave. Smith, who also exec produces, plays the eponymous Bunny, a door-to-door beauty product salesman and self-professed lothario who, following his wife’s suicide, embarks on a road trip with his young son as they struggle with their grief.

Clerkenwell Films produces The Death of Bunny Munro in association with Sky Studios; it is written by Pete Jackson and directed by Isabella Eklöf. Cave also executive produces, alongside Sky Studios’ Manpreet Dosanjh, Clerkenwell’s Petra Fried, Ed Macdonald and Emily Harrison, Jackson and Eklöf. Matthew Mulot produces.

At the time of the commissioning news, Smith said: “To work alongside Nick Cave on The Death of Bunny Munro feels like a great honour. It’s a brilliant exploration of love, grief, and chaos. At its heart a deep, difficult, and tender story about a father and son, coping with loss and change.

“Clerkenwell Films and Sky feels like the perfect home to make such a bold story and Pete has delivered such wonderful scripts, both funny and heart breaking in equal measure. I can’t wait to collaborate with Isabella and begin the journey with everyone at Clerkenwell.”

Cave added: “Finally, someone with the courage to take on this unholy tale. I am thrilled that Sky and Clerkenwell Films are bringing Bunny to life, in all his flawed glory, and I can think of nobody better than Matt Smith to play him.”