Lost in Larrimah’ podcast creators struck a deal with HBO

AN already famous Territory story could soon be a global television series after the creators of the Lost in Larrimah podcast struck a deal with HBO.

The disappearance of Paddy Moriarty in the tiny town of Larrimah sparked the Lost in Larrimah podcast which could now be made into a HBO program. Picture: Helen Orr

AN already famous Territory story could soon be a global television series after the creators of Lost in Larrimah struck a deal with HBO.

Ex-Sunday Territorian editor and freelance journalist Kylie Stevenson and Bond University academic Caroline Graham confirmed the podcast had been optioned by HBO — the American cable network famous for shows such as Game of Thrones, True Detective and The Wire.

Lost in Larrimah, which tells the story of the disappearance of Larrimah local Paddy Moriarty, came to national attention when the podcast launched in April last year.

It won a Walkley Award for best radio/audio feature and is short-listed for the Australian Podcast Awards.

LISTEN TO THE LOST IN LARRIMAH PODCAST HERE

While centred of the disappearance of Mr Moriarty, the series quickly emerges as a study of the inimitable townsfolk of Larrimah — all 12 of them — who Ms Stevenson believes caught the imagination and attention of Hollywood producers.

Caroline Graham (right) and Bond University student Emily Bradfield, who helped research Lost in Larrimah.

“The people in Larrimah are just such an interesting bunch who all have these great backstories ” Ms Stevenson said.

“I think the fact that the town had population of 12 people was something a lot of people who approached us were really intrigued by.”

Kylie Stevenson spent two weeks living in Larrimah in 2016 on an NT Writers’ Centre retreat where she met Mr Moriarty. Picture: Brad Fleet

Should it get the green light from network executives, the show would be a fictionalised series, rather than a documentary.

Ms Stevenson said Larrimah residents had taken well to the news movie stars could soon be playing their characters on TV screens the world over.

“They were all pretty stoked when they found out,” she said.

“Thankfully they’re really happy with Lost in Larrimah and how Carolyn and I treated the story and we still have a really good relationship.”