Tristan Bancks’ book ‘Tom Weekly Versus …’ to be made into TV series

The live-action series will follow 10-year-old Tom and his outrageous adventures, including breaking his grandfather out of the nursing home so he can go to bingo.

Byron Shire author Tristan Bancks with Class 6, Emanuel Anglican College, Ballina, in 2015. Photo: Claire Atkins Photo Contributed

Children’s book series Tom Weekly – My Life and Other Failed Experiments, by Bangalow author Tristan Bancks, will be made into a live series for children.

Screen Australia confirmed the project will share $3.2 million of production funding with another three projects for Australian children TV.

The TV series will be called Tom Weekly Versus …, and it will be a 20-part series for ViacomCBS (owner of Nickelodeon and Channel 10), based on Bancks’ best selling books.

Mr Bancks said this was the first of his books ever developed for audiovisual media.

“I started this series in about 2011 and there are six books,” he said.

“We have been developing the TV series for about three years now.

“We are writing scripts at the moment and hopefully it will be shot later in the year.”

Mr Bancks said he was working on TV adaptations for some other of his books, like Two Wolves, which he already adapted to a film script.

“It would be really nice to think adaptations of other books of mine may be able to be shot locally,” he said.

“Two Wolves is something I’d like to see shot around here some day.”

“There is a TV series from that book being developed as well.”

The other projects benefited with funding are live action series Surviving Summer for Netflix, plus animated series 100% Wolf: The Book of Hath and a Kangaroo Beach Summer Special, both for the ABC.

Screen Australia’s Head of Content Sally Caplan was happy to announce the line-up of children’s titles as part of their commitment to supporting quality Australian screen stories for young audiences.

“It’s important that Australian kids can see their stories and experiences reflected on screen and families around the country will be in for a treat with these new projects,” she said.

“Northern Pictures are going from strength to strength – building on the success of Hardball, they are now set to bring popular book series Tom Weekly to the screen.”

Mr Bancks will join the writing team formed by Kala Ellis (Spreadsheet), Erica Harrison (Fam Time), Nayuka Gorrie (Thalu) and Penny Greenhalgh (Random and Whacky).

Tom Weekly Versus … was financed with support from Screen NSW with ViacomCBS Networks International managing international sales.