Paul Kelly’s iconic song How To Make Gravy being made into film by Binge

An iconic song from Paul Kelly is being made into a feature film. Here’s what you need to know.

Classic Paul Kelly song How To Make Gravy will be realised on the big screen, with Hugo Weaving leading a batch of much-loved stars in the first feature film commissioned by BINGE.

The streaming service announced the news at the Foxtel Group’s annual programming launch in Sydney on Thursday, revealing the cast will also include Brenton Thwaites, Kate Mulvaney, Daniel Henshall and Damon Herriman.

French hot property Agathe Rousselle – a Cannes Film Festival favourite due to her horror flick Titane – is also on board in her first English-language feature, while Nick Waterman will direct.

How To Make Gravy is Kelly’s festive anthem from 1996, about a troubled inmate writing a letter home as his family prepare to celebrate their first Christmas without him.

The story has been adapted for screen by Waterman’s wife and artistic partner, singer and screenwriter, Megan Washington.

Paul Kelly’s song is about to be immortalised on Binge.

“It’s a great privilege to bring Paul Kelly’s iconic song to the screen,” said Alison Hurbert-Burns, Executive Director of BINGE and Commissioning & Content for the Foxtel Group. “I’ve listened to the song for decades, often on my own Christmas road trip, conjuring up the characters, wondering if Stella made her flight and if the brothers made it down from Queensland. Come 2024, at last we’ll know.”

Waterman and Washington said: “It’s a dream to be working with such an incredible cast and crew on our debut feature film. It’s testament to Paul’s songwriting that the world and characters within the song are so vivid, and we are proud to have the honour of bringing it to life. It’s a uniquely Australian story, made for film lovers and music fans alike. We can’t wait to share our adaptation of How To Make Gravy with the world.”

Filming is currently underway on the Gold Coast with Academy Award nominated producer Schuyler Weiss also on the project.

Singer-songwriter Megan Washington and her filmmaker partner, Nick Waterman, arethe creative team behind a film adaption of Paul Kelly's song How To Make Gravy, at their home in New Farm, Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Amid a string of other announcements at Thursday’s programming launch, it was revealed new TV drama, Strife, would premiere on BINGE on December 6.

The show will see Asher Keddie in the lead as media identity and publisher Evelyn, alongside the likes of Jonathan LaPaglia, Emma Lung, Matt Day, Tina Bursill and BeBe Bettencourt.

Hubert-Burns also paid tribute to late comedian Cal Wilson, who tragically died recently after a short battle with cancer. She will be seen in her final role as host of The Great Australian Bake Off when it premieres with the Foxtel Group in 2024.

Elsewhere in the programming slate, it was announced Colin From Accounts season two will begin production over the coming months.

BINGE also officially confirmed Liane Moriarty’s The Last Anniversary will soon commence filming after Nicole Kidman mentioned the production will be directed by John Polson at the recent South by Southwest Sydney.

The streaming service is clearly investing in premium Australian storytelling and recently commissioned seasons of Billion Dollar Playground and Mix Tape.

Actor Brenton Thwaites.

Actor Hugo Weaving.

“The Foxtel Group has a long history of bringing critically-acclaimed Australian stories to the

screen and we remain a committed champion for local, groundbreaking stories and voices in all genres,” said Amanda Laing, BINGE Managing Director and Chief Content and Commercial Officer at the Foxtel Group. “Many of these stories have been watched by millions globally, having been sold and screened in a number of international markets following their premiere on BINGE and Foxtel. We continue to be the partner of choice for the world’s biggest studios and content producers, providing an unmatched content slate from the largest and most diverse pipeline of partners globally. This ensures that our BINGE and Foxtel customers will continue to have access to the very best TV shows and movies from Australia and around the world, catering for every taste and every viewer.”

Also, the second season of The Twelve will premiere in the new year, as will High Country, an eight part mystery thriller starring Leah Purcell and Aaron Pedersen.

Selling Houses Australia returns for its 16th season with hosts Andrew Winter, Wendy Moore and Dennis Scott while Gogglebox Australia and Celebrity Gogglebox Australia are also set to return.