It’s been announced today that Guy Pearce will star as Jack Irish in the telemovie adaptations of Peter Temple’s Bad Debts and Black Tide.

Carole Sklan, ABC TV’s Head of Fiction, said, “ABC TV is bringing to the screen one of Australia’s finest contemporary writers, Peter Temple, and to bring one of his most famous characters to life, we are thrilled to have one of Australia’s leading actors, Guy Pearce.”

Ian Collie of Essential Media, the producer of the telemovies, said, “It’s a perfect match to have one of Australia’s finest actors, Guy Pearce, to play the lead in the two telemovies based on the books by one of Australia’s finest writers, Peter Temple. Not only is Guy perfect for the role of Jack Irish, but his participation reflects the growing international reputation and respect for Australian television drama”.

Filming will begin on Jack Irish: Bad Debts and Jack Irish: Black Tide in October, with the two telemovies set to screen on ABC1 next year.