Made Up Stories and Alison Hurbert-Burns launch global TV play

Made Up Stories and former BINGE and Foxtel executive Alison Hurbert-Burns have launched The Set Up, a new Sydney-based television venture targeting Australian series with international potential.

READ MORE: Bruna Papandrea’s production company to adapt The Soulmate with Asher Keddie and Imogen Banks

READ MORE: Bruna Papandrea's secret to crafting Australian stories for a global stage

The company will bring together projects, talent and financing before taking packaged series to broadcasters and streaming platforms globally. It has a production pipeline planned to begin in 2027 and will also source projects from third-party Australian producers and creatives.

The team behind The Set Up

Hurbert-Burns will serve as chief executive and co-founder alongside Made Up Stories co-founders Bruna Papandrea and Steve Hutensky. Made Up Stories executives and producers Casey Haver, Jeanne Snow and Katie Amos will also form part of the leadership team.

Hurbert-Burns previously oversaw the launch and growth of BINGE and has commissioned Australian series including Colin From Accounts, Mix Tape and The Twelve.

Papandrea, Hutensky and Made Up Stories have produced series including Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing, Pieces of Her and Anatomy of a Scandal.

The founders have also worked together before. Their previous collaborations include Strife and the 2025 adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s The Last Anniversary, an international co-production involving BINGE/Foxtel, AMC+ and the BBC.

A dedicated Australian production venture

The Set Up gives Made Up Stories a dedicated Australian operation focused on packaging television projects for both local and international buyers. Made Up Stories will continue developing its broader film and television slate with US and global partners.

The new business will draw on Australian creative and production talent, locations and production incentives as it looks to establish global co-productions and broadcaster partnerships.

Papandrea and Hutensky said: “Alison is that rare combination — a true tastemaker and a brilliant operator — and one of the most highly regarded people in the Australian TV industry. Teaming up with her is a dream.

“Australian creatives and stories are world-class, and the opportunity to produce a slate of shows that resonate both locally and globally is incredibly exciting. We’re passionate about bringing top Australian television to audiences everywhere.”

Hurbert-Burns said the venture would combine Made Up Stories’ production expertise with her experience on the commissioning side of the industry.

“Bruna, Steve and the Made Up Stories team are simply the best in the business at making television the world wants to watch — and this new company is a business and creative partnership in every sense.

“We're bringing a commissioner's lens and a targeted approach to our slate, finding stories that travel across borders and appeal to broad audiences. Having been on the buying side, I appreciate that streamers and broadcasters need reliable, consistent access to highly engaging, premium-quality content in a landscape that's changing fast."

Made Up Stories builds its Australian slate

Founded in 2017 by Papandrea and Hutensky, Made Up Stories operates across Los Angeles, Sydney and London.

Its Australian productions include The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Strife, The Dry and Force of Nature: The Dry 2. The company is also preparing Peacock series The Good Daughter, its second collaboration with author Karin Slaughter.