Nick Cave and Warren Ellis are once again joining forces to compose the original score for the highly anticipated TV adaptation of Cave’s 2009 novel The Death of Bunny Munro. The six-part Sky Original series, which will premiere later this year, stars Matt Smith in the titular role of Bunny Munro, a sex-addicted cosmetics salesman who embarks on a chaotic road trip with his young son following the suicide of his wife. The series, written by BAFTA-winner Pete Jackson (Somewhere Boy) and directed by Isabella Eklöf (Industry, Holiday), promises to offer a darkly comic, emotionally charged narrative centered around fatherhood, grief, and unraveling identity.
The collaboration between Cave and Ellis, longtime partners in both music and storytelling, is set to bring the book’s raw intensity to life with an original score recorded at Soundtree Music in Shoreditch. Engineered by their frequent collaborator Luis Almau, the score is expected to capture the duo’s signature emotional power, described as having a “raw, unruly energy” that complements the series’ gritty tone. Cave and Ellis have previously teamed up on a number of acclaimed projects, including The Proposition (2005), The Road (2009), Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022), and the upcoming Back to Black (2024), the Amy Winehouse biopic.In addition to the music, the series is poised to make its first public appearance at the London Literature Festival. On October 30, a special preview event will take place at the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre. The evening will feature screenings of the first two episodes, followed by an exclusive conversation between Nick Cave and Matt Smith, delving into the process of adapting the novel for television and the thematic undercurrents of the story.
Cave’s exploration of the disintegration of a troubled man, a deeply flawed father figure, is brought to life through Smith’s portrayal of Bunny Munro. The character’s descent into chaos mirrors the emotional journey of his son, who begins to realize his father’s imperfections. As father and son travel through the seaside town of Brighton, their relationships with each other—and with themselves—are put to the test, set against a backdrop of sex, addiction, and tragedy. Produced by Clerkenwell Films in association with Sky Studios, The Death of Bunny Munro is set to premiere later this year on Sky and NOW streaming services. With its blend of dark humor, tragedy, and intimate exploration of masculinity, the series promises to be a gripping watch for fans of Cave’s unique storytelling and Ellis’s evocative compositions.
For those eager to get a glimpse of the show before its official release, the October 30 event at Southbank Centre is sure to be an unforgettable experience, offering insights into the making of the series and a rare opportunity to hear from Cave and Smith about the adaptation of one of Cave’s most poignant and provocative works.
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