A new dark comedy is bringing American chaos to Australian shores. Sunny Nights, a Stan Original series starring Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden, premiered all eight episodes on December 26, 2025. The show follows two American siblings whose attempt to launch a spray tan business in Sydney plunges them into the city’s criminal underworld.
What Is Sunny Nights About?
The series centers on Martin and Vicki Marvin, a brother-sister duo from the United States who move to Sydney with a questionable business plan: selling spray tans in a country with one of the world’s highest rates of skin cancer. Martin, a cautious risk analyst, is also hoping to reconcile with his estranged wife, Joyce, who lives in Australia.
Their venture, named Tansform, operates out of a van and a rundown motel called the Sunny Nights. Financial desperation quickly leads to a catastrophic series of bad decisions. After a one-night stand, Martin becomes the target of a blackmail scheme, forcing the siblings to borrow money from dangerous loan sharks. Their situation spirals further out of control, involving an accidental murder, a vengeful crime boss, and an exploding crocodile, as they struggle to stay alive, out of jail, and financially afloat.
“It’s this delightful combination that somehow gels together, where it’s really funny, but there’s a lot of suspense and thriller elements,” said Will Forte about the show’s unique tone.
Cast and Character Details
The series is led by the comedic duo of Will Forte as the beleaguered Martin and D’Arcy Carden as his impulsive sister, Vicki. Both actors have highlighted their on-screen chemistry and the authentic sibling dynamic they developed.
They are joined by a standout Australian and New Zealand ensemble cast:
- Rachel House plays Mony, the unhinged and vengeful crime boss whose brother is killed.
- Jessica De Gouw is Susi, a confidence artist involved in the initial blackmail plot.
- Ra Chapman portrays Joyce, Martin’s ex-wife and an investigative journalist.
- Willie Mason, a former professional rugby league star, makes his acting debut as Terry Torres, a former athlete with health issues who gets pulled into the siblings’ troubles.
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Behind the Scenes and Global Reach
Sunny Nights was created and written by Nick Keetch and Ty Freer. The series is directed and executive produced by acclaimed Australian filmmaker Trent O’Donnell, known for shows like Colin from Accounts and No Activity. O’Donnell was a major draw for the lead actors, both of whom had worked with him previously.
The production is a collaboration between Jungle Entertainment and Echo Lake Entertainment, with major investment from Screen Australia and support from Screen NSW. Filming took place in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024.
Even before its Australian premiere, the show attracted significant international interest. It was selected for the Berlinale Series Market in early 2025. The global distributor, Cineflix Rights, has since sold the series to several territories, including:
- ITVX in the United Kingdom (premiering in 2026)
- Crave (via Bell Media) in Canada
- ProSieben in Germany
- TVNZ in New Zealand
Where to Watch
As a Stan Original, the complete first season of Sunny Nights is available to stream exclusively on Stan in Australia. All eight episodes were released at once on December 26, 2025 (Boxing Day).
The series has taken over the coveted Boxing Day release slot on Stan, previously held by the hit show Bump for five years. For international audiences, the show will begin rolling out on various platforms in 2026, starting with ITVX in the UK.
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