House of Hancock
| Company type | Mini-series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | February 8, 2015 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television drama |
House of Hancock is an Australian mini-series broadcast in two installments on the Nine Network, premiering on 8 and 15 February 2015.
Plot
House of Hancock portrays the intricate family relationships within the Hancock dynasty, centering on the fraught interactions between Lang Hancock, his daughter Gina, and their Filipina housekeeper Rose.
Lang shares a strong connection with Gina, who is set to take over the family enterprise. Their relationship becomes strained following Gina's marriage to a significantly older man and the passing of Lang’s wife, Hope. To assist her father, Gina employs Rose Lacson as a housekeeper, unaware that this choice will cause significant family discord.
Lang quickly develops a romantic attachment to Rose, who is 37 years younger than him. Their union ignites a protracted and acrimonious public dispute lasting two decades, involving scandalous love affairs, court cases, allegations of murder and drug use, claims of illegitimate offspring, and intense media attention—all revolving around control of the extensive Hancock family wealth.
Production
On 13 February 2013, a four-part series titled Gina, inspired by mining magnate Gina Rinehart's life, was commissioned as a collaboration between the Nine Network, Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder, and Claudia Karvan’s production company.
By November 2013, the Nine Network scaled back the project to two one-hour telemovies under the revised title Gina v Rose: The House of Hancock.
Casting announcements on 13 August 2014 revealed Mandy McElhinney as Gina Rinehart, with Sam Neill and Peta Sergeant soon confirmed in roles as Lang Hancock and Rose Hancock Porteous, respectively.
Produced by Michael Cordell, Claudia Karvan, and Paul Bennett, filming occurred in Perth and Sydney from August through early October 2014.
Cast
- Mandy McElhinney portraying Gina Rinehart
- Sam Neill as Lang Hancock
- Peta Sergeant in the role of Rose Hancock Porteous
- Robert Coleby as Frank Rinehart
- Leon Ford as Alan Camp
- Anne-Louise Lambert playing Hope Hancock
- Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as Kevin Dalby
- Leah Purcell portraying Hilda Kickett
- Darcey Wilson as Young Gina
Reception
The initial episode premiered on 8 February 2015 at 8:45 pm on the Nine Network, airing opposite Ten’s NCIS: New Orleans. The telemovie was divided into two parts broadcast on successive Sundays.
Awards and nominations
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie | House of Hancock | Template:Nom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most Outstanding Actress | Mandy McElhinney | Template:Nom |
Controversy
Upon its debut on the Nine Network, House of Hancock encountered defamation allegations from Gina Rinehart, who challenged the series’ portrayal of events and pursued legal action. On 24 February 2017, Nine Network issued a formal apology to Rinehart for inaccuracies and agreed to halt distribution of the series via DVD, streaming services, and international markets.