Is The Death of Bunny Munro based on a true story?

by

Today marks the release of ‘The Death of Bunny Munro,’ a six-part series where Matt Smith delivers a captivating performance as the complex and troubled Bunny Munro.

The film begins in the early 2000s, after a personal loss leads travelling salesman Bunny Munro and his nine-year-old son, Bunny Jr., to unexpectedly hit the road for a journey along England’s south coast.

Unfortunately, the father-son holiday doesn’t go well. Bunny’s careless and irresponsible behavior soon becomes apparent, and his son starts to copy those same negative habits.

This story tackles difficult topics like addiction, mental health, and the challenges of parenting, which will likely resonate with many viewers. The strong acting and well-written script, from the creator of ‘Somewhere Boy’ – Pete Jackson – make these themes even more impactful.

Nick Cave, the author of the book that inspired Sky’s drama, recently revealed how much of ‘The Death of Bunny Munro’ is based on his own personal experiences.

Is The Death of Bunny Munro based on a true story?

While “The Death of Bunny Munro” isn’t a true story, it’s based on the novel of the same name by Nick Cave. Cave has mentioned that some parts of the story are drawn from his own life experiences.

At the London Literature Festival, Nick Cave explained that his character, Bunny Munro, is essentially a flawed and imperfect person – someone far from being at their best.

Looking back on the time I wrote the novel, I was going through a really difficult period and dealing with some deeply personal and troubling issues. I definitely had a darker side then.

It’s also about the challenge of parenting while dealing with your own struggles, and learning how to shield your child from those difficulties while still offering them support and encouragement.

Cave explained that the complex dynamic between the father and son in the story resonated with him deeply, making it feel very personal. While he doesn’t share the father’s specific interests, he empathizes with the character and understands his motivations.

Both Nick Cave and his character, Bunny Munro, have struggled with drug use. Munro often turns to cocaine and alcohol as a harmful way to deal with his life falling apart.

Nick Cave recently told El País newspaper he strongly dislikes both cocaine and heroin, despite admitting to past cocaine use and identifying heroin as his biggest addiction.

In a 1988 interview with NME, as reported by The Guardian, he admitted he regretted getting involved with drugs. He explained that overcoming his addiction would be a significant challenge and require a lot of effort and a major life change.

In October 2020, he shared on his website that going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings was crucial in his recovery from addiction. He explained to a fan that he likely wouldn’t have overcome his struggles without the support he received from the group.

Even though there are some similarities between Cave’s own life and the character’s experiences, he’s consistently maintained that Bunny Munro isn’t a direct portrayal of himself – and he’s said this since the book came out in 2009.

Following the book’s release, he told FlavorWire that neither the character Bunny nor the ‘Horned Killer’ was modeled after himself. He did admit, however, that he saw some familiar thoughts in Bunny’s explicit internal monologue, though he emphasized it was a very exaggerated example.

This book isn’t just a story; it’s an exploration of how someone like Bunny is shaped by the world around him. He’s a result of a culture obsessed with sex and consumption – think billboards, advertisements, and music television – and that’s what fuels his imagination.

At the London Literature Festival, following a preview of the first episodes of the TV adaptation, Nick Cave shared that the character of Bunny Munro came about largely because he’s always been drawn to characters who are imperfect and break boundaries.

He explained to Edith Bowman that he found these stories much more compelling, and definitely more inspiring to write about. He believes they’re the ones we need to be focusing on and keeping an eye on.

These flawed characters, in a way, reveal deeper truths. I’ve always believed that, and instead of dismissing them, we should really listen to what they have to say.

Cave believes there’s a core reality at work, especially within those who are deeply wounded.

The Death of Bunny Munro arrives on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Thursday 20th November 2025.

Read More

2025-11-20 11:09