by FilmInk Staff
Love, art and ambition collide in a provocative romantic drama set inside the seductive, high-stakes world of contemporary art.
Dollhouse Pictures, an independent collective and production company, has secured the screen option to The Work, the acclaimed novel by author Bri Lee for television adaptation. Published by Allen & Unwin the novel was an instant Australian best-seller.
The Work is set between New York, Brisbane and Sydney, and follows Lally, an ambitious New York gallerist, and Patrick, a Sydney-based junior antiques appraiser, two young professionals, both desperately trying to establish themselves in the contemporary art world. When they meet, their chemistry is instant, beginning a turbulent long distant relationship. As their personal and professional lives become increasingly entangled, they begin to question if their love can survive distance, ambition and their cut-throat workplace.
For Dollhouse Pictures, the novel represents an opportunity to bring a distinctive generational voice to the screen exploring the dynamics of who gets to make art alongside the biggest intersections of career and relationships. Screenwriter Hannah Lehmann has created the series; Bri Lee and Jessica Carrera will serve as executive producers.
JESSICA CARRERA for DOLLHOUSE PICTURES says: “I’ve always admired Bri Lee’s writing and her willingness to question power, privilege and the institutions that shape us. What excites me about The Work is its seductive world, where everything has a value and the rules are constantly shifting. At its heart is a complicated relationship that asks what if the person you desire most is also the person who costs you the most. Hannah Lehmann brings a sharp and assured voice to the adaptation.”
BRI LEE, AUTHOR says: “I am so excited that The Work has found a production and writing team that are committed to making this show properly gutsy, hella sexy, and seriously funny. This novel was always so cinematic in my head, and Dollhouse Productions are going to take the words off the page and build a magnetic, can’t-look-away spectacle. Hannah is a genius who understands these characters’ deepest fears and desires.”
The adaptation is in development with the recently announced support of Screen Australia.
Bri Lee continues to be represented by United Talent Agency and Grace Heifetz at a4 Literary. The rights deal was negotiated by United Talent Agency.
ABOUT DOLLHOUSE PICTURES
Dollhouse Pictures is co-founded by Rose Byrne, Krew Boylan, Shannon Murphy and Jessica Carrera. Dollhouse develops audacious female led screen stories for global audiences. Their debut film “Seriously Red” was made with the support of the late Dolly Parton. The Dollhouse slate includes film, television and animation, with a focus on subversive storytelling and maverick voices.
ABOUT BRI LEE
Bri Lee is the award-winning author of non-fiction books Eggshell Skull, Beauty and Who Gets to Be Smart. Her journalism, essays, and short stories have been published widely, and she is the creator and editor of News & Reviews. Bri’s first novel, The Work, was a bestseller in 2024 and was longlisted for the Indie Award for Debut Fiction. Her second novel, Seed, was published in 2025.
ABOUT HANNAH LEHMANN
Hannah Lehmann is an award-winning writer and director who created and directed all three seasons of US-produced Snap Originals series TWO SIDES, attracting over 1.2 million Snapchat subscribers. Her awards include an ADG, Webby and Streamy, alongside an NAACP Image Award nomination. She has adapted bestselling books for iGeneration Studios and Leone Films. Hannah has an original series and original film in development, supported by Screen Australia.
ABOUT UTA
UTA is a premier global talent agency built for the future of media and entertainment. The agency’s diversified platform and best-in-class, client-first approach is innovative, collaborative and positioned to lead in an evolving market. UTA represents the most celebrated artists, creatives, and brands, from icons and legends to next-generation talent, and its integrated capabilities span film & television, music, creators, sports, brands, news, publishing, speakers, theater, and more. It is based in Los Angeles with offices in the U.S., London, and Munich.
