Paramount+ Announces Mushroom Murders Drama Series

The six-part series will feature Melanie Lynskey as Erin Patterson in a dramatisation of the Leongatha case.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Financial Crime

Paramount+ Announces Mushroom Murders Drama Series

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Paramount+ has announced a new six-part drama series titled Mushroom Murders detailing the 2023 case in Leongatha. Melanie Lynskey will star as Erin Patterson and serve as an executive producer for the production.

Why it matters

The series focuses on the 97-day timeline spanning from the lunch event that led to the deaths of three individuals to the eventual arrest of Erin Patterson. This production highlights the public interest surrounding the criminal proceedings.

Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering Don Patterson, Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson, as well as attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson. The case centres on the 97-day period between the initial lunch and her arrest.

The players

Melanie Lynskey

An actress who will portray Erin Patterson and contribute as an executive producer for the series.

Erin Patterson

The central figure of the case who was found guilty of multiple murder and attempted murder charges.

The details

The programme will be created by Anya Beyersdorf, Daina Reid, and Deb Balderstone, with filming scheduled to take place in Victoria. It explores the events that transpired in Leongatha where death cap mushrooms were used in the crimes.

The crimes were committed in Leongatha during 2023.
Paramount Australia announced the series this past Wednesday at an upfronts event.

Legal Context

The production follows a trend of adapting high-profile Australian criminal cases into scripted television dramas. It reflects an ongoing effort to explore the 2023 Leongatha mushroom poisonings through a narrative lens.

The announcement marks the beginning of the production phase for a high-profile series involving the Leongatha case. Residents in Victoria may observe filming activity as the crew prepares to recreate the events surrounding the 2023 investigation.

The takeaway

This dramatisation underscores the significant community and media impact of the events that occurred in Leongatha. Audiences can monitor updates from Paramount+ for further details on the show's development and eventual streaming availability.