The Los Angeles-based film and television studio Happy ADCIDENTS has been collaborated with Australian production companies Total Fiction and Screen Invaders in the Genre-Bending Drama-Comedie series “Gnomes” (6 × 30 “).
The studio, which specializes in high-end content in multiple genres, including films, scripted and unwritten series, documentaries and formats, has come on board as a co-producer and international distributor for the series. The project was commissioned by Stan Australia and picked up by the German broadcaster ZDFNEO via Network film.
Described as “Gremlins meets Hot Fuzz”, the series follows two local police officers in a small town who has to fight against an army of murderous garden gnomes who come to life during the inaugural Gnome-a-Palooza festival of the city. The show will use a combination of practical effects and VFX to bring the miniature cuts to life.
Award-winning filmmaker Joel Kohn, who leads state investigators on the screen, created the series and will produce in addition to total fiction-executive producers John Molloy (“Barons”, “The Gloaming”) and Richard Kelly (“The Tailings”, “Jones Family Christmas” ) Producing). Holly A. Hines of Happy Accidents (“Ginny & Georgia,” “Fortitude”) and Eric Jarboe (“Falling for Christmas”, “The Princess Switch”) serve as executive producers.
Australian comedy writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven write the scripts, with Matthias Hoene (“Theodosia”, “Cockneys vs Zombies”) confirmed as set -up director.
“I fell in love with this concept when I heard the field and the scripts have just been exceptional,” says Hines, who also serves as a co-CEO of happy accidents. “‘Gnomes’ is a complete jewel-wild fantasy, hilarious unusual and unlike something else in the comedy-drama room.”
“The enthusiasm of our partners in Stan Australia and Zdfneo is proof of how universal his attraction is real, and we can’t wait to introduce this unique adventure to the public,” adds Jarboe, co-CEO of happy accidents.
The series made waves during the Content London Drama Pitch Competition last year, with the second place of more than 200 project listings worldwide.
Production starts at the beginning of 2025 in Australia. The series marks the inaugural production for Total Fiction, the Australian production company founded in 2024 and the debut series of the screen invaders.