The answer, according to the producer and director of Red Hot, is "probably not if she wants $15 million".

But they are looking at A-list actors to fill the strong female lead role.

The eight-part mini series based on the the true story of a firebug who tormented Hamilton Valley in the 1960s and adapted from Leonie Alldis' book takes another step in the right direction next week when writing begins.

Director Rachel Ward and producer Bill Leimbach were on the Border on Thursday, January 9, "getting to know the lay of the land".

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"Just sort of getting a sense of Leonie and the family that was there," Ward said.

"The visit ahead of the writers workshop next week I am just here really reacquainting myself with a large country town and the dynamics of that."

Leimbach said although a date isn't quite set for filming, they have locations in mind and once scripts are written they will start pitching to streaming services.

"We are definitely looking at Hamilton Valley where it all took place but we also need a large fruit tree farm which aren't around here anymore so looking more towards Rutherglen as well," he said.

"Once the pilot and second episode scripts are written we basically will take them to Netflix and Stan and go from there and start filming once it is confirmed.

"Ideally we would love an actor as A-list as we can get, but Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman might be out of our reach but you never know."

Ward said getting to know the "terrain" meant getting to know the community.

"Country towns are very different to those in metro cities and thats what makes this story so interesting and full of drama - it is a bit like Big Little Lies in that sense with how the setting of Monterey plays a big part," she said.

The six-month production would involve a cast and crew up to 150 with local extras needed.