Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie in mix to play lawyer Nicola Gobbo

It will be one of the most-sought after roles on Australian television — and some of the biggest names in show business will be on the hit list to play gangland lawyer and police informant Nicola Gobbo in an eight-part series on Lawyer X.

• The day I met Nicola Gobbo
• The other life of supergrass Lawyer X

It will be one of the most sought-after roles on Australian television — and some of the biggest showbusiness names will be on the hit list to play it.

Foxtel and News Corp have commissioned an eight-part series on Lawyer X, the gangland lawyer and police informant Nicola Gobbo, with a short list of top Australian ­actors up for the plum part.

The Sunday Telegraph understands Hollywood A-listers Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, as well as Elizabeth Debicki, Asher Keddie and Naomi Watts, are in the mix to take on the role of the former defence barrister in Lawyer X: The Story Of ­Informer 3838.

A new series has been commissioned by Foxtel on gangland lawyer and police informant Nicola Gobbo.

Nicole Kidman is believed to be one of the Hollywood stars in the running to play Gobbo. Picture: Christian Gilles

As is Margot Robbie. Picture: MEGA

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Foxtel’s executive director of television Brian Walsh said the real-life story of Ms Gobbo, who represented notorious underworld figures Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel, had everything — “cops, crims, ­capers, sex and betrayal”.

“This is one of the most exciting and dramatic true crime stories of our time and a terrific role for an accomplished ­actress,” Mr Walsh said.

“Our ambition is to cast someone who is brave and ready to embody this complex and controversial figure.

“Australia has a stellar line-up of talented and versatile artists who could tackle Lawyer X and our ambition is to absolutely secure the right actor for the role, someone who can artistically capture the complexities of character in this larger than life story.”

Or could the role possibly go to multiple Logie winner Asher Keddie.

Naomi Watts is another option on the table. Picture: Andreas Solaro/AFP

The identity of Ms Gobbo, an ­informer for the Victorian Police ­between 1995 and 2009, was revealed on Friday after a Court of Appeal suppression order was lifted.

The new TV series will be based on stories published in The Herald-Sun with the journalists who uncovered the scandal, Anthony ­Dowsley and Patrick Carlyon, acting as consultants.

Ms Gobbo represented gangland figures such as Carl Williams.

“This is an ­extraordinary real-life Australian story that is ­unfolding before our eyes and pulled straight from headlines,” Mr Walsh said.

Mr Dowsley and Mr Carlyon have also signed a deal with Harper Collins for a blockbuster book.

Originally published as Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie in mix to play lawyer Nicola Gobbo