Peter Brock TV movie fires up with Offspring star cast in lead role

A new television movie about Australian racing legend Peter Brock has found its leading man, with Offspring star Matthew Le Nevez announced for the role this week.

The new Channel Ten film, titled simply ‘Brock’, was first announced in November, but funding concerns and the absence of a completed script were reported to have left the project’s future in doubt.

This week, however, the network has confirmed a late 2015 filming schedule, along with the movie’s lead actor and key supporting cast.

Above: Brock as a young and rising star.

The 36 year-old Le Nevez, who also portrayed cricketer Dennis Lillee in the 2012 TV miniseries Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War, described himself as a lifelong fan of Brock’s accomplishments on the track.

“Growing up as a kid, I watched Peter conquer the mountain many times and now to be playing him, I am extremely excited. I hope to honour the man, his family, and his legacy,” He said. “He is an Aussie icon like no other.”

Le Nevez will be joined by Ella Scott Lynch as Bev Brock, Steve Bisley as Harry Firth and Natalie Bassingthwaite as Julie Bamford.

The movie is expected to cover Brock’s exploits on and off the track, acknowledging the highs and lows in the life of ‘Peter Perfect’.

“He made his name on the track, winning Bathurst 500/1000 nine times, but it was his life off the track that earned him the nickname ‘Not so Perfect Peter’. He was complex, troubled and full of self-doubt. An enigma. He was also a champion,” Channel Ten’s Rick Maier said today.

The movie will be produced by the Sydney-based Shine Australia, the outfit behind the 2014 miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart.