Bryan Brown and Sam Neill headline ABC's new Old School drama

IN the first sign of NBCUniversal’s foray into Australian TV production, ABC1 will screen a new drama starring Bryan Brown and Sam Neill.

THE first tangible sign of NBCUniversalÂ’s foray into Australian television production has emerged with ABC1 announcing a new eight-part drama series.

Australian production company Matchbox Pictures, in which US studio NBCUniversal took a majority stake in 2011, will produce the drama Old School, starring Bryan Brown and Sam Neill. NBCUniversal will distribute the series internationally.

The duo star as an old cop and old crim who team up to solve crimes.

Peter Phelps also stars in the series, which was created by Paul Oliver and Steve Wright, and directed by Two Hands’ Gregor Jordan, Peter Templeman (Not Suitable For Children) and Paul Oliver.

The series was developed from Oliver’s 2003 feature film Lennie Cahill Shoots Through.

Lead director Gregor Jordan said, "Old School is like my first film Two Hands, a story about Sydney, and so as a Sydney-sider, telling these stories is a really personal experience."

The series was written by Belinda Chayko, Oliver, Matt Cameron, Chris Hawkshaw, Jordan, Michaeley O’Brien and Nick Parsons.

Helen Panckhurst will produce with Matchbox’s Tony Ayres and Penny Chapman as executive producers.

Carole Sklan, ABC TV’s Head of Fiction said in a statement: "This fabulous show is witty, tough, smart, and full of great characters. We’re really thrilled to have Bryan Brown and Sam Neill heading such a wonderful cast, and to be working with Matchbox Pictures again after such successful collaborations on series including The Slap and The Straits."