RTÉ’s Kin creator, Peter Mckenna, has revealed he had another actor in mind to play show favourite, Amanda Kinsella.
However following a last-minute shakeup, the role was taken over by Clare Dunne – who went on to win best actress at Irish Film and TV Award for her performance.
When writing the script for the gangland show for the second season, the creator admitted he had written Amanda for Clare.
Speaking to The Sun, Peter confessed: “I originally wrote Amanda with another actress in mind, who I won’t name.”
“I met her and she was really nice and loved the scripts. She agreed to do our show, which was a small show.”
“But before we got Kin off the ground and organised financing, she got offered another big franchise and went off to America.”
“So we went back through people and ended up with Clare, who was perfect.”
He continued: “The original version of Amanda Kinsella in season one was volatile and unpredictable.”
“That’s not Clare who is more controlled and strategic. So for the second season I wrote for Clare.”
Earlier this year, Clare revealed she’d love to reprise her role as Amanda Kinsella for a third season of Kin, after it hit Netflix.
The RTÉ crime drama was recently picked up by the streaming giant, sparking fresh hope the series will return for a third season.
Speaking exclusively to Goss.ie at the 2024 IFTA Awards, the actress said she hoped the series would see a boost in popularity when it debuts on Netflix.
When asked if she hopes the renewed interest in Kin would result in a potential third season, and if she would like to be a part of it, Clare told us: “Yeah I imagine I would!”
“I think we would all go back together if we can get all the stars aligned and get everyone’s availability, because we have some big stars involved.”
The series, which was co-created by Peter McKenna and Ciaran Donnelly, first premiered on RTÉ back in 2021, and was quickly branded the “new Love/Hate”.
The show aired for two seasons with a stellar cast – including Clare Dunne, Aidan Gillen, Charlie Cox, Ciarán Hinds, and Emmett J. Scanlan.
The popular drama charted the lives of Dublin-based family the Kinsellas, who are embroiled in a gangland war.
Last year, it was reported that a third season of Kin had been filmed in Ireland, and that a fourth season had already been commissioned.
However, doubts were cast over the shows future when Bron Studios, the production company and financiers of Kin, filed for bankruptcy last July.
