by FilmInk Staff
The Set Up, the new television venture from Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories and Alison Hurbert-Burns, announced today an exciting collaboration with acclaimed Australian journalist, writer and author Lisa Wilkinsonfor the television adaptation of her number one bestselling historical non-fiction THE TITANIC STORY OF EVELYN.
Published in April 2026, THE TITANIC STORY OF EVELYN went straight to number one on the Australian bestseller list across all genres (Nielsen), received rave reviews and was included as one of Audible’s Best of the Year audiobooks.
The incredible true story of the only Australian-born survivor of the Titanic, THE TITANIC STORY OF EVELYN is a sweeping love story, told for the very first time that follows the adventures of brave young nurse Evelyn Marsden from the dusty backblocks of Federation Australia to the great horizons of the Atlantic Ocean and beyond.
Born in rural South Australia, Evelyn was an accomplished horsewoman and a champion rower with an extraordinary sense of adventure. In her quest to see the world, Evelyn took up a role as a stewardess on ocean liners before meeting and falling madly in love with a handsome ships doctor, Dr William Abel James. When fate separates the couple and Evelyn boards the RMS Titanic alone for its maiden voyage, she applies her true Australian grit and courageously helps save the lives of many distressed passengers in the face of one of the greatest maritime tragedies the world has ever known.
Evelyn and William’s love endures many of the 20th century’s most momentous events through World War One and the Great Depression, before the couple settle by the sea at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, dedicated always to a life of service and to each other.
Wilkinson says, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be teaming up with two such masterful tellers of women’s stories as Bruna and Alison.
“From Big Little Lies to Colin From Accounts, I’m a huge fan of their award-winning work, and I know that Bruna and Alison will be the very best team to bring Evelyn’s truly titanic story of adventure, heroism, tragedy and love-in-another-time, to the screen.”
Papandrea, Hutensky and Hurbert-Burns say, “The power of Lisa Wilkinson as a storyteller and a trusted voice for Australians throughout her long and celebrated career is unmatched. She has done an incredible job of bringing Evelyn’s remarkable, previously untold story to life. It’s the Titanic as we’ve never seen it, told through Evelyn’s eyes and those of the many extraordinary women on that ship, with a beautiful love story at its heart. We’re excited to bring it to the screen.”
Papandrea, Hurbert-Burns and Steve Hutensky will produce for The Set Up alongside Wilkinson, Nick Fordham and agent/producer Lee-Anne Higgins.
Praise for THE TITANIC STORY OF EVELYN
“I so enjoyed meeting and getting to know Evelyn Marsden through the pages of Lisa Wilkinson’s wonderful book. This is both her story of love, resilience and courage, and an ode to ordinary people like her, who find within themselves the ability to do extraordinary things when duty and history call. An inspiring read” – JULIA GILLARD, FORMER AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER
“Deeply researched . . . Wilkinson is particularly adept at putting the reader on the spot, especially in the often surreal mayhem of the evacuation . . . Thoroughly engaging” – SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
“Wilkinson’s turn of phrase is buoyant [and it] is quite the service she’s done, putting Evelyn back into our history . . . I was so moved” – WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
About Lisa Wilkinson
Lisa Wilkinson AM is one of Australia’s most popular, admired and respected journalists. Lisa began her groundbreaking career in publishing, becoming the youngest-ever editor of a national magazine, Dolly, at the age of 21, where she tripled the circulation in just four years. Then, after being personally headhunted by Kerry Packer, Lisa spent ten years as editor of the iconic and bestselling Cleo magazine, before becoming Editor At Large of the Australian Women’s Weekly. That led to stints in all forms of media, including newspapers, TV, radio and online.
Lisa is probably best known, though, for her work in television, first as a panellist on the daytime talk show Beauty & The Beast, then as launch host of Weekend Sunrise for two years, before spending almost eleven years as co-host of the Nine Network’s Today Show, helping to take it to the top of the ratings in 2016, followed by five years as co-host of Network Ten’s primetime news and current affairs program, The Project. There, her award-winning interviews regularly made headlines across the country.
Now, Lisa has added number one best-selling author to her long list of achievements with this year’s blockbuster number one book, The Titanic Story of Evelyn about the only Australian survivor of the Titanic disaster. It is Lisa’s second best-selling book, following her highly acclaimed autobiography, It Wasn’t Meant To Be Like This, published in 2021. Lisa is married to journalist, former Wallaby and bestselling author himself, Peter FitzSimons.
About The Set Up
The Set Up is a new television venture uniting two of television’s most formidable forces: Alison Hurbert-Burns, celebrated Australian television executive and commissioner (formerly of BINGE/Foxtel and executive producer of The Twelve, The Last Anniversary, Strife, Colin From Accounts), and acclaimed global production company Made Up Stories led by Bruna Papandrea and Steve Hutensky (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Strife).
The Set Up brings together stories, talent and financing to package premium series from Australia for top broadcasters and platforms throughout the world.
About Lee-Anne Higgins
Lee-Anne Higgins has a 20-year career as a talent representative. Along with her company co-founders, Natasha Harrison and Trish McAskill, she established the leading Australian talent agency United Management in 2011.
Prior to this, Lee-Anne worked with internationally acclaimed producer Jan Chapman for many years, working on several award-winning productions including Jane Campion’s THE PIANO, Gillian Armstrong’s THE LAST DAYS OF CHEZ NOUS, Ray Lawrence’s LANTANA and Shirley Barrett’s LOVE SERENADE.
