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Peter Weir’s 1975 parable of imperial anxiety and sexual hysteria, rereleased for its 50th anniversary, is a classic of Australian new wave cinema

‘Clambering about in Victorian boots was brutal’: how we made Picnic at Hanging Rock

Peter Weir’s eerie and lugubrious mystery chiller from 1975, adapted by screenwriter Cliff Green from the novel by Joan Lindsay, is now rereleased for its 50th anniversary. It’s a supernatural parable of imperial anxiety and sexual hysteria: the bizarre and unclassifiable story of three demure and porcelain-white schoolgirls and one teacher who on Valentine’s Day 1900 – with the 19th century over and the Victorian age less than a year to run – simply vanish in the burning sun while on a picnic excursion to the forbiddingly vast monolith Hanging Rock in southern Australia. No one here uses the Indigenous name Ngannelong and the only Indigenous character is a tracker.

They disappear while...

‘A potential US distributor,’ recalls director Peter Weir, ‘supposedly threw his coffee cup at the screen at the end of the film, saying, “So whodunnit?” He felt he’d wasted a couple of hours’

One morning in early 1973, the TV personality Patricia Lovell knocked on my door. She was thinking of buying the rights for a novel by Joan Lindsay, Picnic at Hanging Rock, a story about the mysterious disappearance of three schoolgirls at an ancient rock formation and she was looking for an up-and-coming director. I had been gripped by the book and was very keen to make it.

Desire as persistent and intense as the sunshine on a bright summer day is what teases out madness in Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock. The objects, or goals, of these desires are disparate, though they all spiral out following the 1900 disappearance of three young women and a teacher from the Appleyard School during a trip to the small titular ridge on St. Valentine’s Day. The vanishing of these women is central to the plot, but Weir’s film is never as fascinated with the reasons for this absence as it is with the characters left in its inexplicable wake. Cliff Green’s script, adapted from Joan Lindsay’s novel of the same name, never goes about teasing what could have happened to these women at Hanging Rock, instead focusing on the wild cupidity that erupts in the surrounding community in reaction to the mystery.

For many of the characters,...

Much of Australian cinema lives in the shadow of Peter Weir, and perhaps nothing of his own looms larger than Picnic at Hanging Rock. I’m sure the film is quite beautiful, but––having only seen it on a less-than-ideal DVD––its power has long been subdued. Which makes particularly necessary a new 4K restoration which Janus is beginning to roll out ahead of an inevitable Criterion upgrade. Ahead of a January 31 debut at New York’s IFC Center, there’s a new trailer that, even with YouTube compression, exceeds any easily accessible material by leaps and bounds.

Here’s the synopsis (in case you somehow don’t know what this film’s about): “This sensual and striking chronicle of a disappearance and its aftermath put director Peter Weir on the map and helped usher in a new era of Australian cinema. Based on an acclaimed 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay,...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Candy Land Blu-ray from Mvd

One of last year’s indie horror standouts, Candy Land is getting a Blu-ray release on February 5 from Mvd and Roxwell Films. Special features include a commentary by director John Swab and a digital zine.

Swab writes and directs. Olivia Luccardi, Sam Quartin, Eden Brolin, Owen Campbell, Virginia Rand, Guinevere Turner, and William Baldwin star.

In her review, Meagan Navarro said “Candy Land gives a refreshing perspective through its condemnation of religion and its positioning of sex workers as protagonists. It’s a more nuanced and lived-in approach to the sleazy slasher format, and its affecting characters elevate the familiar.”

Art the Clown Doll from Living Dead Doll

Terrifier’s...

‘A haunting and compelling oddity from Australian

master Peter Weir… part mystery, part horror, an

impressionist poem to lost innocence’

★★★★★

Empire

‘The first true masterpiece of Australian cinema’

Philip French, The Observer

‘You can see its influences in everything… remains

[Peter Weir’s] most extraordinary work’

Mark Kermode

The internationally acclaimed Australian cinema classic Picnic At Hanging Rock established the now legendary, Peter Weir (The Truman Show, Dead Poets Society) as a major filmmaker and with BAFTA-winning photography and a memorably haunting score, it remains one of the most chillingly atmospheric and beautifully enigmatic films ever made. Now this seminal piece of cinema has received a stunning new Limited Edition 4K Uhd/Blu-ray release alongside Standard Editions on 4K Uhd and Blu-ray courtesy of Second Sight Films.

The film is presented in an impressive new Second Sight Films 4K scan and restoration from the original camera negative, which was supervised...

Picnic At Hanging Rock

Here at Eye For Film we deal mostly in what’s new – on the festival circuit, at the box office or on streaming networks – so it’s not often that the opportunity arises to discuss a classic. Very few films in the history of cinema have had the impact of Peter Weir’s 1975 mystery Picnic At Hanging Rock. The story of a disappearance and the effect it has on those who remain, it’s based, of course, on the book by Joan Lindsay, whose inspirations have themselves always been obscure, but may be rooted in real disappearances which took place at the rock around 1900. In the film, Karen Robson played Irma, the only one of the party of four who venture up the rock to be found. In the course of our conversation she raised another mystery – the unknown fate of one of its stars – and shared.

The premiere of Amazon’s Back to the Rafters last month and the impending production of Netflix’s Heartbreak High offer insight into how international platforms approach local IP with cultural resonance.

Whereas one picks up the story of a family six years after their last outing, the other will reimagine a world from before the turn of the century, sharing only its title and young adult genre with the original.

The local and international popularity of both series – Heartbreak High was sold to more than 80 countries in the ’90s and Packed to the Rafters to a number of European and Asian territories, as well as South Africa – makes them appealing for platforms like Netflix and Amazon with global audiences. However, the process of bringing back an old favourite is not always a smooth one.

Five years ago, Foxtel commissioned a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s novel Picnic at Hanging Rock...

“Game of Thrones” actress Natalie Dormer has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Fremantle. Under the terms of the agreement, Dormer and Fremantle will develop a slate of drama projects together.

Dormer, Fremantle and Mainstreet Pictures are currently developing “Vivling,” a series based on the life of British actress Vivien Leigh. The story will follow the highs and lows of the much-loved starlet who conquered Hollywood and give audiences a glimpse into the complex mind of the creative genius, per Fremantle’s Monday announcement.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Fremantle,” Dormer said. “Their impressive slate reflects a dedication to the highest quality storytelling and the strength of their reputation internationally.”

Also Read: 'Game of Thrones' Season 8: Here's Everything We Know About the Series' Epic Ending - So Far

“Natalie is a true talent both as an actress and producer. Her great ambition and taste...

The UK actress and filmmaker will co-develop a drama slate.

Game Of Thrones star Natalie Dormer has sealed a first-look deal with Fremantle to co-develop a slate of dramas.

The multi-year deal expands on Fremantle’s existing relationship with the UK actress/writer, with the two collaborating on Vivling, a series based on the life of UK actress Vivien Leigh with ITV Studios’ Mainstreet Pictures.

Dormer was most recently seen in Picnic At Hanging Rock, a Fremantle series for Foxtel and Amazon based on Joan Lindsay’s classic novel, which was picked up by BBC2.

She also co-wrote and starred...

Coming off her work on the Amazon limited series Picnic at Hanging Rock, multi-hyphenate Larysa Kondracki has signed a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios. Under the pact, the producer, director and writer will develop and produce original series for the studio, with the option to serve as director for select series. Kondracki, who was director-showrunner on Picnic at Hanging Rock, will produce the projects for Prime Video via her Smadginelli banner.

“Larysa has a unique, particular vision and we were blown away by her take on Picnic At Hanging Rock. She made the story seem modern, timeless and avant-garde all at the same time,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “By signing her to a first look deal, we have a triple threat player who will enthrall our Prime Video audience with whatever she does next.”

Picnic at Hanging Rock, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s classic Australian novel,...

Joan Lindsay‘s 1967 historical novel “Picnic at Hanging Rock” was already adapted into a 1975 film by Peter Weir, so one might wonder what a new TV version could have to offer, but not star Natalie Dormer. “The original material is just so dense,” she explains. “There’s so much subtext there that isn’t really ever fully explored” in the previous movie. With the six-hour Amazon limited series, Dormer wanted to “expand and flesh out that original novel in a way that it’s been begging to” since its publication more than 50 years ago. Watch our exclusive video interview with Dormer above.

See Emmy spotlight: Natalie Dormer is wickedly good as headmistress in Amazon’s ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’

The series centers on a group of Australian schoolgirls who inexplicably go missing while on a Valentine’s Day picnic at Hanging Rock in 1900. Dormer plays Mrs. Appleyard, the tyrannical headmistress at the girls’ boarding school.

Exclusive: Larysa Kondracki, who co-wrote and directed the Rachel Weisz sex-trafficking drama The Whistleblower and is currently showrunner of Amazon’s just-released limited series Picnic At Hanging Rock, has signed with Wme. The director-writer-producer also helmed the pilot of the six-episode series starring Natalie Dormer as well as the next two episodes.

Hanging Rock, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s Australian novel from distributor FremantleMedia International, chronicles the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and one teacher on Valentine’s Day 1900. The narrative follows the investigation and the event’s far-reaching impact on the students, families and staff of Appleyard College, and on the nearby township.

On the TV side, Kondracki most recently directed the pilot episode of ABC’s The Fix, on which Marcia Clark is co-writer and executive producer and Robin Tunney stars; the network ordered the pilot to series and it’s eyeing a midseason bow. Kondracki is...

A new version of Picnic at Hanging Rock takes a markedly different approach to the material, resulting in a pungent series that endeavors to peer more closely into the souls of its characters. First published in 1967, Joan Lindsay's novel followed what happens after four women -- three boarding school students and a teacher -- inexplicably disappear on a picnic at the namesake geological formation in February 1900. Lindsay framed the story as though it were based on real events. Peter Weir made a haunting, ethereal and mysterious big-screen version in 1975, which is currently available for streaming on FilmStruck. Photographed by Russell Boyd (The Man From Hong Kong), the film remains a gleaming gem of gorgeous beauty. Watching it again recently, I was struck...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Natalie Dormer has made a name for herself playing complex noblewomen in shows like “Game of Thrones” and “The Tudors” in recent years, but Amazon’s new limited series “Picnic at Hanging Rock” provides her with the role she was born to play. As Hester Appleyard, the wicked headmistress of a college for girls in 1900s Australia, Dormer proves that she is more than capable of commanding her own show, turning in one of the best performances of her career. Margaery Tyrell and Anne Boelyn have got nothing on the indomitable Mrs. Appleyard. Could Dormer get an Emmy nomination for Best Movie/Mini Actress?

SEEWill ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ set a new Emmy record as Amazon’s most nominated show?

“Picnic at Hanging Rock,” Amazon’s program based on the Joan Lindsay novel of the same name, tells the story of a group of girls at Mrs. Appleyard’s college...

From showrunner Larysa Kondracki and adapted from the iconic 1967 Australian novel by Joan Lindsay, the miniseries Picnic at Hanging Rock (streaming at Amazon Prime) tells the story of what happens when a group of schoolgirls from a local college take a day trip to Hanging Rock on Valentine’s Day 1900, and three of the girls and their governess go missing. The disappearance deeply affects the students family and staff of Appleyard College, none more so than enigmatic headmistress Hester Appleyard (Natalie Dormer), who becomes increasingly fearful that her own dark and secret past will be revealed. At the …...

(Spoiler alert: Read at your own risk if you haven’t seen all of Amazon’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock.”)

By the end of the Amazon limited series “Picnic at Hanging Rock” audiences still don’t know what happened to the girls who went missing at the beginning. But showrunner and director Larysa Kondracki hopes her “enchanted chiller” will give fans an “emotionally satisfying conclusion” nonetheless.

If that’s not good enough for you, Kondracki told TheWrap she has her own “cockamamy idea” about what happened to the young ladies at the center of the TV adaptation based on Joan Lindsay’s iconic Australian novel of the same name, which the director describes as “‘Heathers’ meets ‘The Breakfast Club,’ with a little bit of ‘The Shining.'”

Also Read: 'Picnic at Hanging Rock': Natalie Dormer Tells Us Why It Was 'Delicious' to 'Unravel' in Adaptation

Former...

Surprise!!

There is a lot of programming on during the summer months that you want to watch.

You may not have realized it, but once you scroll through the upcoming pages, you'll be thumping yourself in the forehead.

1. Picnic at Hanging Rock - Amazon Streaming now. A six-episode, Australian-produced adaptation of Joan Lindsay's 1967 novel about a group of schoolgirls who go missing on an outing. It stars Natalie Dormer and Yael Stone. 2. Six - History Monday, May 28, 10/9c and returns Wednesday, May 30, in regular timeslot. The ten-episode second season of “Six” follows Navy Seal Team Six in a mission to destroy the terrorist network responsible for the shooting of their former team leader. 3. 100 Code - Wgn Tues May 10/9 -- Dominic Monaghan and Michael Nyqvist star in this Swedish-produced crime thriller about an international pair of cops investigating a series of murders in New York and Stockholm. 4. Animal Kingdom - TNT Tuesday,...

Joan Lindsay’s novel “Picnic at Hanging Rock” was a mere 212 pages when first printed in 1967. Peter Weir’s 1975 movie of the same name clocked in under two hours (115 minutes). Both have been praised for their mysterious takes on the story of four women who disappear in the Australian bush — the novel for framing the events as a true story (it wasn’t) and the film for its challenging, open-ended conclusion, among other attributes for both.

The new TV adaptation builds on many of these same traits, but a funny thing happens when you try to elongate a surreal horror story by providing explicit details: It gets boring. In extending the length to a six-hour limited series, Amazon’s 2018 version loses much of the original works’ imaginative appeal even while providing added agency to its characters. Each of the key students at Mrs. Hester Appleyard’s (Natalie Dormer) school (as...

From showrunner Larysa Kondracki and adapted from the iconic 1967 Australian novel by Joan Lindsay, the mini-series Picnic at Hanging Rock (streaming at Amazon Prime) tells the story of what happens when a group of schoolgirls from a local college take a day trip to Hanging Rock on Valentine’s Day 1900, and three of the girls and their governess go missing. The disappearance deeply affects the students family and staff of Appleyard College, none more so than enigmatic headmistress Hester Appleyard (Natalie Dormer), who becomes increasingly fearful that her own dark and secret past will be revealed. At …...

Peter Weir’s 1975 film “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” much like the geologic formation named in its title, casts a very long shadow. Based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay, the movie adaptation tells the story of three young women and a teacher from Appleyard College, who go missing during a Valentine’s Day outing in 1900.

Considered a masterpiece of Australian filmmaking and an achievement in Weir’s early career, the movie created a haunting Victorian aesthetic that is still referenced in films, fashion, and other art forms to this day. Because of this impact, the movie looked as if it would be one of the few classics that would remain untouched by the latest wave of remakes and reboots. Then a group of women came along to change that.

Showrunner and director Larysa Kondracki and star Natalie Dormer spoke to IndieWire about why they dared to...

Natalie Dormer is mad about her latest gig, “Picnic at Hanging Rock.” Partly because she gets to go mad in the new Amazon limited series based on Joan Lindsay’s iconic Australian novel of the same name.

The former “Game of Thrones” star leads the cast of the adaptation as Mrs. Hester Appleyard, the enigmatic headmistress of Appleyard College, a boarding school that she established for young ladies isolated in Australian bushland. The story centers around the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and one teacher on Valentine’s Day in 1900 and the subsequent investigation, covering its impact on students, families and staff at Appleyard College and the nearby town.

“It’s not so much the actual thing of what happened to them, it’s the ripple effect to this community and all these different personalities on what that event does to people. You know, that’s the drama,” Dormer said.

From showrunner Larysa Kondracki and adapted from the iconic 1967 Australian novel by Joan Lindsay, the mini-series Picnic at Hanging Rock (streaming at Amazon Prime on May 25th) tells the story of what happens when a group of schoolgirls from a local college take a day trip to Hanging Rock on Valentine’s Day 1900, and three of the girls and their governess go missing. The disappearance deeply affects the students family and staff of Appleyard College, none more so than enigmatic headmistress Hester Appleyard (Natalie Dormer), who becomes increasingly fearful that her own dark and secret past will …...

When writer Beatrix Christian and director Larysa Kondracki first set out to adapt Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” there was a sense of “Is it necessary to tell this story again?” In fact, Kondracki says, “the press protested me and were constantly saying, ‘Why do this?'”

After all, the story about four schoolgirls who disappear during a picnic in the 1900s was legendary among the Australian audience, and it had already been turned into a story for the screen by Peter Weir (in 1975) — a project both women say was “perfect on its own.”

But after reading the book again, both felt it was necessary to tell this story again — albeit this time for the smaller screen — because they had a chance to go deeper with characters and bring a quintessential Australian tale into the international world.

“The book is really ahead of its time. It’s kind of got true crime,...

After canceling a swath of outré, female-centered shows to focus on high-budget fantasy epics, Amazon Prime has picked up…another outré, female-centered show. And they’re all the better for it! FremantleMedia’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock” miniseries, starring Natalie Dormer, is an awesomely eclectic adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel that sets itself apart from Peter Weir’s classic 1975 film. The series’ greatest strength is its unparalleled ability to sniff out subtext, as directors Larysa Kondracki, Amanda Brotchie, and Michael Rymer twist this low-budget epic into an eye-popping, surreal mystery with complex characters and consummate camp.

On a hot and hazy Valentine’s Day in 1900, a group of girls from an Australian finishing school embarked on a picnic to a mysterious monolith. Some of them were never seen again. The tale, based in folklore and made into the novel Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay in 1967, as well as Peter Weir’s classic movie version in 1975, is now being elongated into a 6-episode series for Amazon. Through each adaptation, the defining characteristics remain the same: the story plays out like a mid-day reverie, the mysteries are hinted at but never …...

Welcome back to Tune In: our weekly newsletter offering a guide to the best of the week’s TV.

Each week, Variety’s TV team combs through the week’s schedule, selecting our picks of what to watch and when/how to watch them. This week, “Roseanne” concludes its first revival season, while “Killing Eve” wraps up its critically-acclaimed first season.

“Roseanne,” ABC, Tuesday, 10 p.m.

In the season finale, Roseanne’s knee gets worse so Dan is forced to a make an important work decision. But when a major storm hits Lanford, their fortunes change for the better. Later, Darlene realizes she has to go back to her first passion, writing.

“The Middle,” ABC, Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.

The popular comedy series will air its one-hour finale after nine seasons. In the episode, a Heck leaves the nest as the family takes a road trip to Denver, where Axl...

Exclusive: Works by Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist) are headed to the small screen. American Gods producer FremantleMedia North America, Random House Studio and Dancing Ledge Productions have signed an exclusive deal with the famous Brazilian author to develop the first-ever TV drama series based on his books.

Exploring themes and characters from Coelho’s novels The Devil and Miss Prym, Brida and The Witch of Portobello, all published by Harper Collins, the crime thriller will explore the human condition, celebrating Coelho’s multi-layered and inspirational storytelling.

The yet-untitled TV series follows a young priest who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption – ostracized by his church, a fugitive from the law, and hunted by a powerful crime family. Meanwhile, the CIA agent chasing him discovers mysterious powers, and a more profound connection to the priest than she ever thought possible.

Coelho, who is known for his deep connection with his audience,...

And so, we reach the final month before Emmys eligibility closes once more. As the mad rush intensifies before the official start of summer, a number of returning TV shows will definitely be vying for your attention.

But amidst all the chaos of those shows making their way back into living rooms, some new series will also be vying for your attention. As is our custom at the beginning of each month, we’ve collected a rundown of the shows that might just be worth your time across broadcast, cable, and streaming.

(Missed our picks of what the first part of the year had to offer? Here are some notable TV premieres from February, March, and April.)

“Being Serena”

As one of the great athletes of her generation embarks on the new quest of being a mother, this five-part HBO series tracks her life on and off the tennis court.

Here’s something to be cautiously optimistic about: “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” one of the best, most enigmatic films of the ’70s, is getting a second life as an Amazon miniseries. Larysa Kondracki’s six-episode project is an adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel rather than a remake of Peter Weir’s 1975 movie, but the latter’s legacy will loom large when the new “Picnic” premieres late next month.

Natalie Dormer, who’s starring in the series, doesn’t seem worried. “Who the fuck are these women? This is amazing,'” she recalls thinking to herself when she first read the script.

“There was something in those first few scripts, but the way Larysa spoke of her vision, tonally, it just felt so fresh, so brave [and] courageous in the mashing of genres and strong visual tone that was going to be atmospheric and sophisticated in its nonlinear storytelling,” Dormer continues in her Variety interview.

Natalie Dormer knew “Picnic at Hanging Rock” was the perfect next project for her when she received a personal letter from director Larysa Kondracki.

“It said, ‘I need this woman not to be an archetype. I need her to be three-dimensional, psychological, littered with flaws and fears. And I need the humanity of her so that she’s not just a bitch,’” Dormer tells Variety of the note.

Kondracki also wrote, “nobody would be able to do that like Natalie Dormer.”

It was a “seductive” pitch for Dormer, who then hopped on a video chat to further talk through the vision for the six-episode limited series based on Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel. (The story was previously adapted for the big screen in 1975.)

The plot centers on the mysterious disappearance of four young women from an Australian boarding college and the damage it does to the school, its staff and students,...

Joan Lindsay’s much-acclaimed 1967 Australian novel “Picnic At Hanging Rock” has already resulted in one stunning adaptation — Peter Weir’s 1975 film of the same name — so a second attempt, this time a television series, may already feel unnecessary. But it doesn’t take long for writers Beatrix Christian and Alice Addison to make the case for their own 2018 “Picnic,” a darker, more mysterious, and extended version that manages to feel updated for our time while still keeping the original 1900 setting.

In “Picnic At Hanging Rock,” the central mystery is laid out immediately: Four young women — three students and their teacher — suddenly vanish on Valentine’s Day, 1900, while on a school picnic at, well, Hanging Rock. The base premise is familiar to fans of crime series, but this is no ordinary drama; it’s eerie and haunting. It’s less dreamy (a quality frequently ascribed to the film) and more of...

If you haven't seen Peter Weir's Australian classic Picnic at Hanging Rock, go and do so right now. And then come back, May 25th, to see how Amazon is expanding it (and Joan Lindsay's novel) into a limited series. The story revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a group of school girls on Valentine's Day in 1900, while on a walkabout to a nearby outcropping. The 1975 movie is a haunting reverie, and created an aesthetic that has been cribbed by a number of other filmmakers (including Sofia Coppola for movies like The Virgin Suicides and …...

Amazon Studios has released the first trailer for their upcoming mystery drama series Picnic at Hanging Rock. The six-part miniseries stars Natalie Dormer, and it looks like a great series for her to be a part of!

The series is based on Joan Lindsay’s iconic Australian novel of the same name and the story centers on the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and one teacher on Valentine’s Day in 1900.

The series revolves around the subsequent investigation and the event’s far-reaching impact on the students, families and staff at Appleyard College, and on the nearby township.

Dormer plays Mrs. Hester Appleyard, the enigmatic headmistress of Appleyard College, a boarding school that she established for young ladies isolated in Australian bushland. The actresses starring alongside Dormer as the three students who mysteriously vanish include Samara Weaving as Irma Leopold, a Rothschild heiress; Madeleine Madden as Marion Quade, daughter of...

In today’s roundup, Wayne Brady has joined the cast of “Colony,” and Amazon Prime announced the premiere date for “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” starring Natalie Dormer.

Casting

Peyton List, Wayne Brady, Graham McTavish, and Waleed Zuaiter have joined the cast of alien invasion drama “Colony” for the show’s third season. List will play Amy Leonard, a doctor and member of the San Fernando cell who tags along with Tory Kittles‘ Eric Broussard as they carry out a dangerous mission to smuggle valuable secrets to Resistance fighters against the Occupation. “The Hobbit” actor McTavish will play Andrew MacGregor, the leader of the most successful Resistance camp in the old United States, while “Whose Line Is It Anyway’s” Brady will play Everett Kynes, the tech-savvy head of the rebuilt Seattle Colony. “Altered Carbon” actor Zuaiter rounds out the newcomers as Vincent, a man whose morals will be tested when...

Amazon is coming for the classics. The streaming outfit is now taking on Peter Weir’s twisted thriller “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” care of a brand-new six-part series. Like Weir’s film, the series is based on Joan Lindsay’s cult novel of the same name, which first spawned Weir’s take back in 1975. This new one doesn’t change the book’s setting — an isolated Australian boarding school in the year 1900 — or its pervasive sense of dread.

Featuring former “Game of Thrones” star Natalie Dormer, along with Lola Bessis, Yael Stone, Anna McGahan, Sibylla Budd, Ruby Rees, and Inez Curro, the series looks to have plenty to intrigue fans of creepy cinema, unsolved mysteries, and the strange magic that unspools when a bunch of hormonal young ladies are thrown together. At the secluded Appleyard College (led by Dormer as headmistress), students adore an annual tradition that involves a picnic at the eponymous Hanging Rock.

It's an audacious undertaking to reimagine a story as vividly cemented in collective memory as Picnic at Hanging Rock. Not only was Peter Weir's 1975 film one of the canonical works of the Australian New Wave, it planted the eerie mystery in the popular imagination with such enduring force that the fictional story first told in Joan Lindsay's 1967 novel carved out a permanent place in national folklore. There are probably people who still believe it was based on actual events.

So hats off to the creators of this glossy six-part TV adaptation — debuting May 6 on Australia's Foxtel...

"Picnic at Hanging Rock" is the Australian TV drama, airing on Foxtel's Showcase, BBC and Amazon Prime in 2018, adapted from author Joan Lindsay's 1967 novel of the same name, starring Natalie Dormer ("Game of Thrones"), Lola Bessis, Yael Stone, Anna McGahan, Sibylla Budd, Lily Sullivan and Madeleine Madden:

"...set in 1900, the film focuses on a group of female students at an Australian girls' boarding school who inexplicably vanish at 'Hanging Rock' while on a 'Valentine's Day' picnic...

"...and the outlying effects the disappearances have on the school and local community..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Seven series selected for TV strand.

The Berlin Film Festival (Feb 15-25) has unveiled the seven titles set to be screened in this year’s Berlinale Series programme.

Source: Hulu

The Looming Tower

Opening the festival’s TV strand is Australian series Picnic At Hanging Rock, FremantleMedia’s Natalie Dormer-starring TV adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel, which previously spawned Peter Weir’s Bafta-winning 1975 feature.

The series tells the story of a strict headmistress at a boarding school whose dark past catches up with her after three pupils mysteriously disappear during a school outing.

Also in the selection is Legendary Television and broadcaster Hulu’s The Looming Tower, which is based on Lawrence Wright’s Pulitzer prize-winning book of the same name. Chronicling the lead-up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the series stars Jeff Daniels as counter terrorism expert John O’Neill and is being exec produced by Alex Gibney.

Further series in the...

The BBC has picked up FremantleMedia's Natalie Dormer-fronted Australian drama Picnic at Hanging Rock. The deal follows an agreement by Svod service Amazon to pick up the crime thriller in the U.S. It is the latest Australian series to air on the British pubcaster following deals for shows including The Slap and dystopian sci-fi thriller Cleverman. The series, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay's classic 1967 Australian novel, is directed by Larysa Kondracki, the Canadian…...

Amazon has acquired Picnic at Hanging Rock, the upcoming six-episode Australian drama series starring Game Of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer, for a 2018 premiere on Amazon Prime Video Us. The series, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay's classic Australian novel, hails from director Larysa Kondracki and distributor FremantleMedia International. Dormer stars as English headmistress Mrs Hester Appleyard — a woman whose dead husband instructs her daily life and whose peculiarities are…...

This time on the podcast, Trevor Berrett and David Blakeslee discuss Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock.

This sensual and striking chronicle of a disappearance and its aftermath put director Peter Weir on the map and helped usher in a new era of Australian cinema. Based on an acclaimed 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay, Picnic at Hanging Rock is set at the turn of the twentieth century and concerns a small group of students from an all- female college who vanish, along with a chaperone, while on a St. Valentine’s Day outing. Less a mystery than a journey into the mystic, as well as an inquiry into issues of class and sexual repression in Australian society, Weir’s gorgeous, disquieting film is a work of poetic horror whose secrets haunt viewers to this day.

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Episode Links Picnic at Hanging Rock...

Close-Up is a column that spotlights films now playing on Mubi. Otto Preminger's Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) is showing January 31 - March 2 and Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) is showing February 2 - March 3, 2017 in the United Kingdom in the double feature Gone Girls.In Peter Weir’s Australian classic, Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975), an injured, delirious Englishman being ferried away by doctors hands over a piece of lace he found on “the Rock,” as the locals refer to it. It is a scrap torn from the dress of one of three schoolgirls who went missing days earlier during a lunchtime picnic, and who all believe are lost, surely dead. This, his desperate look says, is proof the girls are up there somewhere. Halfway through Otto Preminger’s late masterpiece Bunny Lake is Missing (1965), a distraught mother seizes upon a paper stub that she finds in a wallet,...

Foxtel — an Australian pay television company — has revealed it has cast for a number of roles for “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” a 21st century re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s classic, which arguably might be best known for Peter Weir’s 1975 film adaptation. An integral role in the production has been filled by “Game of Thrones” star Natalie Dormer who will play English headmistress Mrs.

Continue reading Natalie Dormer Leads ‘Picnic At Hanging Rock’ TV Event Series at The Playlist.

Natalie Dormer, Yael Stone and French actress Lola Bessis will headline the cast of Australian paynet Foxtel’s original period drama Picnic at Hanging Rock, which goes into production in the state of Victoria next month.

Dormer will star as English headmistress Hester Appleyard; Stone is Miss Dora Lumley, mistress of deportment and Bible studies; and Bessis plays Mademoiselle Dianne de Poitiers, mistress of French conversation, music and dance, all teachers at the Appleyard College for Young Ladies.

The limited series, based on Joan Lindsay’s iconic Australian novel of the same name, centers on the mysterious disappearance of three schoolgirls ...

Foxtel has cast numerous roles in Picnic at Hanging Rock, its 21st century re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s literary classic. Game of Thrones‘ Natalie Dormer will star as English headmistress Mrs Hester Appleyard in the project produced by FremantleMedia Australia and co-financed by Screen Australia and Film Victoria. Published in 1967, the novel centers on the mysterious disappearance of three schoolgirls and their governess on Valentine's Day 1900 and the far-reaching…...

Game of Thrones alumna Natalie Dormer has been tapped to star in Picnic At Hanging Rock, a drama series based on Joan Lindsay’s classic novel, from FremantleMedia Australia. Production is scheduled to get underway later this month in Victoria, with premiere set for later this year on Australia’s Foxtel. The six-part event series, like the novel, focuses on the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and one teacher on Valentine's Day 1900. The teachers of Appleyard…...

Natalie Dormer..

Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer will play English headmistress Mrs. Hester Appleyard in Foxtel.s upcoming.Picnic at Hanging Rock miniseries..

FremantleMedia.s six-parter begins shooting later this month. Amanda Brotchie (Agony, This is Littleton, Lowdown).will direct alongside the previously announced Michael Rymer and Larysa Kondracki.

Brotchie joins after the Australian Directors' Guild criticised FremantleMedia over the import of Kondracki, a Canadian, to shoot the series.

In late December, following a protest staged by the Adg and Wift Nsw outside FremantleMedia.s Sydney office, the production company announced it would bring on an Aussie female director to shoot one episode.

Joining Dormer as the teachers of Appleyard College are.Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black), French actress Lola Bessis (Cassandra, Swim Little Fish Swim),.Anna McGahan (The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Anzac Girls) and Sibylla Budd (Tomorrow When The War Began, Winners & Losers).

Schoolgirls will be played by Lily Sullivan (Camp,...

Peter Weir's 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' (1975). Both Weir's film and the FremantleMedia mini-series are adaptations of Joan Lindsay's 1967 novel..

An Australian female director is set to join FremantleMedia.s Picnic at Hanging Rock, following on from industry criticism over the hire of a foreign director to shoot the series.

The six-part mini, to screen on Foxtel, was originally to be helmed by Canadian director Larysa Kondracki and Aussie Michael Rymer.

However, the Australian Directors' Guild.levelled criticism at FremantleMedia over its import of Kondracki. It opposed her visa, arguing it did not meet the required Net Employment Test and said it understood no female directors working in Australia had been approached for the role..

FremantleMedia announced in late December that a third, local female director would also shoot one episode of the series and receive a sole credit.

.FremantleMedia acknowledges the sensitivity around the selection of...

The Australian Cinematographers Society (Acs) has joined the Australian Director.s Guild (Adg) in its criticism over the hire of a Canadian director to shoot the upcoming Picnic at Hanging Rock mini-series.

Canadian Larysa Kondracki is set to shoot the first three episodes of the six-episode series, currently in pre-production, alongside Aussie Michael Rymer.

In a statement, Acs National President Ron Johanson said: .Quite frankly we are astounded that, given the wealth of directorial talent in Australia, someone from overseas has been given the honour to helm the majority of this new version of Joan Lindsay.s novel. So with that in mind I would like to publicly state that the Acs is fully supportive of the Adg.s condemnation..

.It.s also worth noting that this is not a co-production and is being fully financed in Australia. As a professional body that supports Australian talent the Acs is incredibly...