Today breakfast co-host and 60 Minutes reporter Karl Stefanovic has revealed a new production company and a key project.
The name of the production business is Karlinberg Entertainment and the new project is a Stan Original Documentary Series following the Wallabies on their journey to the Rugby World Cup 2023 under the returning coach Eddie Jones.
Filming has commenced on the three-part series. Karlingberg Entertainment, co-founded by Stefanovic and Richard Weinberg, has created the series in conjunction with production company CJZ.
Cameras will follow the Wallabies through team camps, training sessions, dressing rooms, and on the field as they take part in The Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup, and warm-up matches, culminating in a historic campaign in France as they vie for a third Rugby World Cup trophy.
Superstars featured in the series include co-captains Michael Hooper and James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Nic White, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa, and Carter Gordon.
Cailah Scobie, chief content officer at Stan, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Rugby Australia and CJZ to bring audiences unprecedented behind-the-scenes insight into one of the country’s most beloved sporting sides, the Wallabies, in the lead-up to and during the Rugby World Cup 2023. Viewers will experience a unique and unadulterated journey following Eddie Jones and the Wallabies, and we can’t wait to share with audiences the raw passion and emotion of a team looking to capture a third Webb Ellis Cup.”
Nick Murray, managing director and co-founder of CJZ, said: “Access documentaries have been at the centre of our wheelhouse for 20 years, so partnering with Karlinberg to follow the Wallabies and Eddie Jones all the way to Paris, is a great privilege. We can’t wait to tell their inside story on Stan.”
Karl Stefanovic, co-founder of Karlinberg Entertainment, said: “Absolutely everything is on the line for Australian rugby’s future in the coming seasons. From the boardroom to the boots, it’s an all in full court press for survival. It starts here. And viewers will have a front-row seat to it all.”
Phil Waugh, CEO of Rugby Australia, said: “It is a truly exciting period for Australian Rugby and the Wallabies – with the return of Eddie Jones, a Rugby World Cup later this year, a Lions Tour in 2025 and a home World Cup in 2027. There is a lot to look forward to and, with the support of team management, coaching staff and players, we think it is the perfect opportunity to go into the inner sanctum of the Wallabies to tell the real stories and let Australians get to know the personalities at the heart of this journey. Win, lose or draw, it promises to be fascinating viewing – and we are thrilled to be working on this project with our friends at Stan, as well as the production team of CJZ and Karlinberg.”
Top photo: Wallabies coach Eddie Jones with co-captains James Slipper (L) and Michael Hooper (R)
See also: Stan expands Lionsgate partnership with multi-year output agreement