A week ahead of Underbelly's second series launch, Insider can confirm that work has already started on a third series of the crime franchise, expected to launch later this year.
The third outing will explore the corruption of the NSW and Victorian police forces throughout the 1980s and the clean up job that started in the early '90s.
Production company Screentime's Des Monaghan confirmed the new series, while Nine CEO David Gyngell alluded to the program's possible 2009 debut.
"Its a no-brainer to go again and have Underbelly 3 on Channel Nine as soon as possible,'' Gyngell said.
Next week (Monday 8.30pm) Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities debuts.
If the first series gave Gyton Grantley a platform from which to launch a strong career, Insider believes it to be Nathan Page's turn this year. The largely unknown actor shines in the opening episodes as Melbourne hard man and bank robber Ray Chuck (real name Raymond Patrick Bennett), famed for the 1976 multi-million dollar Great Bookie Robbery.
Page has been trawling the local scene with obligatory appearances in Home & Away, Secret Life Of Us and opposite Kylie Minogue in forgettable flick Sample People but this will certainly prove his breakthrough role. (Credit: The Sunday Telegraph)
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