BBC Three has acquired Australian drama Barracuda from NBCUniversal International Distribution, and will be available on BBC Three this winter. Based on the book by award-winning novelist Christos Tsiolkas and directed by Robert Connolly, the cast includes Academy Award® nominated and Golden Globe® winner Rachel Griffiths, Matt Nable and introduces Elias Anton as Danny Kelly.
Danny Kelly is a talented swimmer attends a prestigious Melbourne private school on a sporting scholarship. Working class, half Greek and half Scottish, he cops his fair share of harassment from the privileged students. Danny yearns to win swimming gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He is taken under the wing of highly regarded coach, Frank Torma and develops a friendship/rivalry with teammate Martin Taylor which inspire Danny to become Australia’s youngest swimming champion.
“Barracuda is a compelling, complex and emotional drama – beautifully filmed and performed.” Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition at the BBC commented Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, went on to add “BBC Three has a rich history in offering drama that covers issues that matter to young people, Barracuda fits that mould.”