Last King of the Cross: John Ibrahim book inspires crime TV series

The life of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim is being made into a TV show, with the man himself involved in pre-production and the script being shown to actors.

The life and times of Sydney nightclub boss John Ibrahim, based on his book “Last King of the Cross,’’ is set to explode on to the screen as a major international mini-series.

One of Australia’s top script writers and directors, Kieran Darcy-Smith, has been working secretly on the project for over 12 months.

The Daily Telegraph has learned negotiations are already underway with major streaming platforms including Stan and US giants Viacom, Netflix and HBO.

Mark Fennessy, producer of TV hits Masterchef, The Voice, Ninja Warrior and dramas Lambs of God, Blue Murder/Killer Cop and Catching Milat is behind the project.

Ibrahim and Fennessy were seen meeting near Cafe Uliveto in Kings Cross this week.

John Ibrahim in Kings Cross this week. Picture: John Grainger

It’s the first major project undertaken by Fennessy and his brother Carl, who recently left the highly successful production company Endemol Shine and acquired the rights to Ibrahim‘s book even before its release.

Ibrahim is working closely with Darcy-Smith and is believed to have even employed former associates who worked with him when he was a club boss to help with details of the time.

The pair have been seen walking together in the Cross and Oxford Street with Ibrahim giving him a guided tour of where some of the 50-odd nightclubs he had an interest in over the past three decades.

“Word is getting around about it,” said a well known actor who has seen early treatments of the first episodes.

“It has more of a feel of Sopranos, rather than an Underbelly. There will be people lining up to be involved.”

He said some of the scenes were quite violent and salacious with strip joints, nightclubs and young women featuring prominently in Ibrahim’s early life.

Most interest will centre around who will play Ibrahim with insiders saying it could easily go to an overseas actor or a total unknown.

Who will play John Ibrahim in the show about his life? Picture: John Grainger

The Telegraph understands there is no chance Firass Dirani will be asked to play the part which he did in the Underbelly series.

While Ibrahim liked the portrayal of Dirani the producers and writers are looking for a totally different feel.

Ibrahim’s best selling book detailed his rise from a young immigrant kid from Tripoli to be considered one of the most powerful figures in the Sydney nightclub industry.

The first of three series will concentrate on Ibrahim’s life in King’s Cross from when he was 17 to building up his empire of clubs at the age of 26, when he virtually took control of the Cross.

Ibrahim’s book Last King of the Cross.

Series two will see his foray into gay nightclubs in Oxford Street.

It details how a cocky young kid changed after a near fatal stabbing and rose to the top while along the way trying to control his increasingly violent brother Sam and saw off attempts by bikies to take over his empire, surviving at least 20 attempts on his life before eventually employing “Tongan Sam” as his bodyguard.

The series will feature corrupt cops such as Roger Rogerson, Chook Fowler and Trevor Hakin as well as crime figure George Freeman. Lawyers have also been poring over the scripts.

Ibrahim with TV producer Mark Fennessy in Kings Cross this week. Picture: John Grainger

While heavily based on the book it will delve into other parts of the Sydney underworld at the time including the little known real life of a female gambling boss known as the “Princess’’.

“She was a young Asian woman who was ruthless, carried a knife and ran one of Sydney’s biggest gambling joints at the time,” said an actor who as seen much of the outline of the series.

It also will explore warts and all the relationship with his brothers Sam Michael and Fadhi who have all been shot at one time or another.

When Fennessy and Ibrahim were approached neither said they were prepared to comment about the production at this stage.