Last King of the Cross is an Australian crime thriller television series on Paramount+, which premiered on 17 February 2023. The series is inspired by the autobiography of nightclub owner John Ibrahim and his experiences in Sydney's Kings Cross and Oxford Street. It is produced by Helium Pictures and distributed internationally through Cineflix Rights. The second season premiered on 30 August 2024. On 7 November 2025, it was announced at the Paramount Upfronts a third season of Last King of the Cross was in development.
Premise The series follows John Ibrahim's (Lincoln Younes) journey from early poverty amid a Lebanese immigrant family to later success. Despite a lack of prospects, he becomes a nightclub mogul of Sydney's Kings Cross, known as much for entertainment as for crime and vice.
Once established in King's Cross, Ibrahim sets his sights on 1990s Oxford Street in Sydney.With new territory to conquer, Sydney’s nightclub supremo branches out in season two of ‘Last King of the Cross’ TV Week. 26 August 2024
Cast Main Lincoln Younes as John Ibrahim Claude Jabbour as Sam Ibrahim Tim Roth as Ezra Shipman (season 1) Callan Mulvey as Detective Sergeant Brian Crellan (season 1) Matt Nable as Anthony 'Big Tony' Stone Uli Latukefu as Tongan Sam (recurring season 1; season 2) Naveen Andrews as Ray Kinnock (season 2) Luke Arnold as Dean Taylor (season 2)
Recurring Christopher Stollery as Inspector Doug Kemp Kevin Khan as Anh Tien Tess Haubrich as Detective Liz Doyle Maria Tran as Madame Tien Hoa Xuande as Romeo Damian Walshe-Howling as Joey Romano Wesley Patten as Brett Jake Ryan as Gibbo Josh Kempen as Clarence Ethan Lamb-Kelly as a teenage Dave Campbell Tony Nikolakopoulos as Fat George Setareh Naghoni as Wahiba Ibrahim Simon Elrahi as Peter 'PK' Kay Robert Rabiah as Jamour Ibrahim Justin Rosniak as Declan Mooney Wadih Dona as Nasa Kalouri Allegra Monk as Molly Lewellyn Malek Alkoni as teenage John Ibrahim Brandon Nguyen as Bui Doi Kid #2 Daniel Widdowson as Clarkey Joseph Frangie as Angelo Lombardi Buffy Anne Littaua as Diane Rob Carlton as The Fixer John Brumpton as Ashtray Frank Amente Bren Foster as Pete Reynolds Fletcher Humphrys as Richard Needham
Guests Russell Dykstra as Bartuccio Jon Sivewright as Barman Lani Tupu as Eldon Sami Luke Ford as Valentine Bracks
Episodes Series overview
Series 1 (2023)
Series 2 (2024)
Production Filming of the first season began in 2022, with strict COVID-19 protocols in place. A car park in Western Sydney was converted to recreate the Kings Cross area. The team had to film amid torrential rain, amid the 2022 New South Wales floods.‘Godfather’-esque Crime Thriller ‘Last King Of The Cross’ Is Proving That Australian TV Drama Is So Much More Than ‘Neighbours’ Deadline. 21 March 2023
Ian McShane had originally been cast as Ezra Shipman, but had to withdraw citing health reasons. The role was recast with Tim Roth.
Reception The first season of the show became the most-watched Australian series on Paramount+.Last King of The Cross becomes most-watched Australian series on Paramount+ Media Week. 27 February 2023
See also
List of Australian television series
References
External links