Hits and misses: The real Mob Wives of Melbourne

Fairfax Media can reveal that dozens of potential "stars" have been contacted about participating in the program, which would document the family lives of some of the nation's most notorious gangsters, crims, hitmen and drug dealers.

But the concept is already drawing sharp criticism from police and advocates for crime victims, as well as generating disquiet among some members of Melbourne's underworld.

The mooted cast list sought by the US producers is believed to include Roberta Williams, ex-wife of murdered drug lord Carl Williams, drug kingpin Tony Mokbel's former partner Danielle McGuire, Tony's sister-in-law Renate Mokbel, and prominent criminal lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson.

A number of other women related to the criminal scenes in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are also under consideration, as well as a former paramour of drug smuggler Terry "Mr Asia" Clark from New Zealand.

The show, likely to be called Mob Wives Australia, is understood to have the backing of influential US film and TV studio the Weinstein Company, which controls the rights to the US franchise.

Brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein have been behind hits such as films Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds, The King's Speech and TV show Project Runway. TWC did not respond to a request for comment.

Mob Wives, which aired in America in 2011 and has attracted strong ratings, is a so-called "docu-soap" depicting the conflict-ridden personal lives of women related to soldiers and leaders in New York's Mafia families and other organised criminal enterprises.

The stars include the daughter of Gambino family underboss-turned-informer Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, the niece of late Genovese family captain Salvatore "Sally Dogs" Lombardi, an ex-fiancee of a professional car thief, and the granddaughter of Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero, a mobster who was immortalised by Al Pacino in the film Donnie Brasco.

The show has reportedly caused ructions within New York's criminal scene as some mafia figures have been opposed to their relatives' involvement in the show, particularly the decision to associate with the family members of a hated informer.

Fairfax Media understands the Australian version of the show is still in the conceptual phase. A local representative of TWC has been meeting with potential cast members for at least six months, a source said.

Roberta Williams has denied having any contact with the production company. "I've got much more important things going on than this and I'm not interested in that kind of publicity," she said.

Ms Williams is believed to be keeping her profile low as she wages a legal fight with the state government over compensation for Carl's death in custody at the hands of fellow inmate Matthew Johnson.

Danielle McGuire, who was involved with murdered Carlton Crew member Alphonse Gangitano, and has been involved with Tony Mokbel and former Bandidos sergeant-at-arms Toby Mitchell, denied she had been approached about the show. "There's no way I'd do anything like that," she said.

Prominent criminal solicitor Zarah Garde-Wilson, the former girlfriend of underworld hitman Lewis Caine who was murdered in 2004, said she had declined an offer to participate.

But the cast is expected to be more diverse than just the members of Melbourne's underworld scene that came to prominence during the vicious street war that cost more than 30 lives. There is no shortage of prospective recruits given Australia's extensive network of current and former underworld identities.

But the premise of the show has met stiff opposition from representatives of Victoria Police and victims' rights advocates. Noel McNamara, president of the Crime Victims Support Association, said it was a "disgrace" and "unnecessary" for the conduct of murderers and drug dealers to be "glorified".

"There are still people still hurting very much over what happened in those years of the thugs going around knocking people off. It's pretty disgusting to make heroes out of these blokes," he said.

A senior police source said he was appalled by any attempt to glamorise underworld figures or those who associated with them.

"If this is right, it's disgusting. These women have mixed with criminals and probably benefited financially from the association. I just don't get how this is considered entertainment. I'm probably old fashioned, but I'll give you the tip, I won't be watching this rubbish," the police officer said.

The same sentiment has been echoed by some members of Melbourne's underworld scene.

Former Carlton Crew boss Mick Gatto said he had "heard nothing" about the show. "There's no way my family will be involved," he added.