News

Exclusive: Stan is saying goodbye to the Chalmers-Davis family.

The Australian streamer has put a fifth and final season of Bump into production, with filming underway in Sydney. The comedy-drama is Stan’s longest-running local scripted series, with the first season having launched back in January 2021.

The show is centered around ambitious teenage girl Oly, who unexpectedly has a baby, and the complications that follow for the Davis and Chalmers families.

The final season will hint at the future for the lead characters, jumping between past and present, as they face the cancer diagnosis of Oly’s mother Angie (Claudia Karvan) and try to celebrate the joy of Oly’s second pregnancy. Stan is providing the audience with a chance to be an extra by providing 30-second videos explaining what they’d like to see happen in the final episodes.

Nathalie Morris (We Were Dangerous), who plays Oly, will return...

Keshet International has sold Seven Studios mini-series Secret Bridesmaids Business to a slew of territories in Europe, including Channel 4 in the UK, as well as to New Zealand and Indonesia.

Among those to pick up the series are Sbs in Belgium, Hrt in Croatia, Mola TV in Indonesia, Rte in Ireland and Talpa TV in the Netherlands, Tvnz in New Zealand, and TV4 in Sweden for its AVOD service TV4 Play.

Toplined by Abbie Cornish, Katie McGrath and Georgina Haig, the six-part drama, which aired on Seven in 2019, is a re-imagining of Elizabeth Coleman’s stage play.

The executive producer was MaryAnne Carroll with Amanda Crittenden as series producer.

The script producers/writers were Andrew Anastasios and David Hannam, working with writers Alli Parker, Trent Roberts, Chelsea Cassio and Shanti Gudgeon, and directors Tori Garrett and Jennifer Perrott.

As announced earlier this year, NBC is developing a US version...

The third season of ‘Mustangs Fc’ is underway in Melbourne (Photo: Sarah Enticknap).

The third season of Matchbox Pictures’ children’s series Mustangs Fc is currently shooting in Melbourne for the ABC and new co-commissioning partner Nitv.

Season three, supported by Film Victoria, sees all-girl soccer team The Mustangs enter a harsh new league in which they’re forced to merge with their nemesis, The Wildcats.

Mustangs Fc is produced by Amanda Higgs and Rachel Davis, who have promoted women on set each season; more than 60 per cent of the cast and crew for the third series are female.

The scripts were penned by Kirsty Fisher, Magda Wozniak, Rae Earl, Alix Beane, Shanti Gudgeon and Marisa Nathar, and director Beck Cole joins this season alongside the returning directors Ana Kokkinos, Roger Hodgman and Corrie Chen. Further, Amie Batalibasi, who completed a Film Victoria Key Talent Placement on Mustangs Fc season two,...

Alexander Bertrand in ‘Les Norton.’

After landing his first lead role in Roadshow Rough Diamond’s Australian Gangster, Alexander Bertrand set his sights on playing the title character in the same production house’s Les Norton.

That was no sure thing: Despite his performance as the Sydney crime figure in the upcoming Seven Network drama, the actor had to fight hard to win the Norton role in the ABC series based on Robert G. Barrett’s Australian novels set in the 1980s.

“There were five or six people up for the role, including a couple of heavyweight Hollywood names,” he tells If. “I had to do a couple of call backs.”

Jocelyn Moorhouse, who co-directed the 10-part series with Fadia Abboud, David Caesar and Morgan O’Neill, loved Australian Gangster and championed his cause.

“Jocelyn told me she put on the brass knuckles and went into bat for me,” he says.

(L-r) David Wenham, Alexander Bertrand and Rebel Wilson in ‘Les Norton.’

Roadshow Rough Diamond’s crime caper Les Norton, starring Rebel Wilson, David Wenham and Alexander Bertrand in the title role, will premiere on the ABC and iview on Sunday August 4 at 8.30 pm.

Set in 1985 and based on Robert G. Barrett’s Australian novels, the 10-part series follows the misadventures of Norton, a knockabout bloke from outback Queensland.

On the run from a troubled past, he blows into Sydney where he lands a job as a bouncer at a notorious illegal casino in Kings Cross. Desperate to get home, he is soon seduced by the city’s dubious charms and dragged into a web of underground criminality.

Les becomes tangled up in the illicit activities of his new boss, kingpin Price Galese (Wenham), and Price’s motley crew of former pro boxer turned casino doorman Billy Dunne (Hunter Page-Lochard), gun-for-hire...

(L-r) Katie McGrath, Abbie Cornish and Georgina Haig. (Photo: Ben King)

Abbie Cornish, Katie McGrath and Georgina Haig are playing the leads in Seven Studios’ female-driven romantic thriller Secret Bridesmaids’ Business.

A re-imagining of Elizabeth Coleman’s stage play, the series is now shooting in Melbourne and on locations in Victoria, directed by Tori Garrett and Jennifer Perrott, backed by Film Victoria.

Announced at the Seven Network’s upfronts, the plot revolves around three friends at a wedding which turns deadly after one of the bridesmaids unknowingly invites a malevolent stranger into their lives, triggering a deadly chain reaction that blows open a world of secrets.

According to the synopsis, as the narrative unfolds the power of female friendship could be the difference between life and death.

Cornish plays Melanie, a mother and wife who appears to have an an idyllic life. However when harsh home truths are revealed, her...

Variety has exclusively learned that Australia’s Seven Studios has begun principal photography on the series “Secret Bridesmaids’ Business.”

The show stars Abbie Cornish, Katie McGrath (“Supergirl”), and Georgina Haig (“Once Upon A Time”).

In the series, a bride’s perfect wedding turns deadly after one of her bridesmaids unknowingly invites a malevolent stranger into their lives, triggering a destructive chain reaction that blows open a hidden world of secrets. As the show unfolds, the power of female friendship could be the difference between life and death.

Cornish plays Melanie, who appears to have an idyllic life: she’s a mother and wife, with a successful career and a beautiful home. However, when her life choices are put to the test by some harsh home truths, her ideal world starts to spiral out of control. McGrath is Saskia, a fast-rising lawyer and an arresting, high-octane British truth-bomb. She is relentlessly intelligent and fiercely loyal.

Rebel Wilson on the set of ‘Les Norton’.

The ABC and Roadshow Rough Diamond’s 10-part drama series Les Norton, which stars Rebel Wilson, David Wenham and Alexander Bertrand, began filming last week in Sydney, with Hunter Page-Lochard, Steve Le Marquand, Syd Zygier, Pallavi Sharda, Justin Rosniak and Kate Box joining the cast.

Set in 1985, the series – based on the novels by Robert G. Barrett – follows the exploits of Les Norton (Bertrand), a country bloke from outback Queensland. On the run from a troubled past, he blows into Sydney where he lands a job as a bouncer at a notorious illegal casino in Kings Cross. A classic fish out of water who’s desperate to get home, he soon finds himself seduced by the city’s illicit charms and dragged into a web of underground criminality.

Created by Morgan O’Neill and produced by Daniel Edwards and John Edwards, the directors include Jocelyn Moorhouse,...

Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson is to star in an Australian period drama funded by Sonar Entertainment.

Wilson is to front Les Norton, a ten-part series based on Robert G. Barrett’s novels, for Australian public broadcaster ABC. The series is produced by Romper Stomper producer Roadshow Rough Diamond in association with Screen Australia with Taboo distributor Sonar Entertainment selling globally.

Set in 1985, the series will follow the exploits of Les Norton, a man from outback Queensland. On the run from a troubled past, he blows into Sydney where he lands a job as a bouncer at a notorious illegal casino in Kings Cross. He soon finds himself seduced by the city’s illicit charms and dragged into a web of underground criminality.

Rising star Alexander Bertrand will play the eponymous lead, while Romper Stomper’s David Wenham will star alongside Wilson in the drama, which is directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse,...

Rebel Wilson and David Wenham will star in Australian drama series “Les Norton.” Adapted from the novels of Robert G. Barrett, the show is presented by The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Screen Australia.

Set in 1985, the series will follow the exploits of a country bloke from outback Queensland, played by rising star Alexander Bertrand. On the run from a troubled past, he blows into Sydney where he lands a job as a bouncer at an illegal casino. A classic fish out of water who is desperate to get home, he soon finds himself seduced by the city’s illicit charms and dragged into a web of underground criminality.

The series will be directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, Fadia Abboud (“Australian Gangster”), David Caesar and Morgan O’Neill. It was created for television by Morgan O’Neill, working alongside writers Christopher Lee Samantha Winston Shanti Gudgeon Malcolm Knox and Jessica Tuckwell.

It...

Rebel Wilson..

The ABC has commissioned 10-part Roadshow Rough Diamond drama Les Norton, based on the best-selling novels by Robert G. Barrett.

Set in 1985, the series will follow the exploits of Les Norton, a country bloke from outback Queensland. On the run from a troubled past, he blows into Sydney where he lands a job as a bouncer at a notorious illegal casino in Kings Cross. A classic fish out of water who’s desperate to get home, he soon finds himself seduced by the city’s illicit charms and dragged into a web of underground criminality.

Rebel Wilson and David Wenham will headline the cast together with up-and-coming actor Alexander Bertrand, who will play Norton.

Daniel and John Edwards will produce the series created by by Morgan O’Neill, who will work alongside writers Christopher Lee (Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo), Samantha Winston (Wentworth), Shanti Gudgeon (Wolf Creek...

'Wolf Creek' season one..

Production has begun in South Australia on the second season of Stan's Wolf Creek, with showrunner Greg McLean once again in the director's chair.

John Jarratt reprises the role of Mick Taylor, and will be joined by Tess Haubrich (Alien: Covenant), Matt Day (Rake, Paper Giants, Underbelly, Kiss or Kill), Ben Oxenbould (Comedy Inc., The Kettering Incident, The Code), Laura Wheelwright (Animal Kingdom), Stephen Hunter (The Hobbit, The Leftovers) and Chris Haywood (Shine, Muriel's Wedding, Dogs in Space).

Of the second season McLean said: "We.ll join an amazing cast on a road trip of a lifetime, as they must draw on their inner strength to outwit the terrifying Mick Taylor. John Jarratt returns to take Mick.s dark arts to a whole new level, showcasing the beautiful and dangerous landscapes of the remote outback..

Joining McLean in directing will be Kieran Darcy-Smith (Wish You Were Here,...

Projects by Stephan Elliott, The Babadook writer- director Jennifer Kent, Ben Elton, Rowan Woods, Trent O'Donnell and Jacqueline McKenzie are among the recipients of the latest round of development funding from Screen Australia.

The agency is investing more than $550,000 in 16 feature film projects, including 11 new ones and five that get continued support.

Screen Australia.s Head of Production Sally Caplan, said, .The funding decisions made in this last quarter reflect the breadth of stories coming out of this country and the depth of talent. It is great to be able to support such a spread of genres and ideas and such a range of established and emerging writing, directing and producing talent..

Elliott.s Madams is a comedy from the writers of Easy Virtue. Kent gets funding for Interior, a revenge thriller set in Tasmania in the 1820s.

Woods. The Phobos Experiment is a thriller in which people simulate training...

Screen Australia says it has not mismanaged its finances by spending its annual production funding in just six months - a state of affairs which it says reflects the strength of the local film industry.

The government screen agency revealed in mid-December 2012 that it had spent its entire annual $42 million drama production allocation due to the unprecedented number of quality feature film and television projects seeking support. The shock announcement was reminiscent of the agency's abrupt decision to cut its investment cap in 2009 while several films were mid-financed. That decision.threw several major Australian productions into dissaray including The Tree and the biggest box office hit of.2010, Tomorrow When the War Began (Omnilab Media had to increase its investment at the last minute to ensure production).

Overspending on such a scale has never occurred before, even going back to the era of Screen Australia.s predecessor funding arm, the Film Finance Corporation.

David Michod

David Michod’s new film has received funding from Screen Australia, as part of almost $20m of investment from the screen agency.

The investment is expected to trigger $100m worth of production across four feature films, five TV dramas and three children’s dramas.

The Rover is written and directed by Michod, with a story by Michod and Joel Edgerton.

The film has cast Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson in the lead roles.

Michod will also produce the film alongside his Animal Kingdom producing partner Liz Watts for Porchlight Films and David Linde, Ep on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for his Lava Bear Films.

The film will be distributed by Village Roadshow with international sales by FilmNation.

The Rover, set in the Australian desert in the dangerous near-future sees Eric, a man who has lost almost everything in life, have his car stolen by a gang of criminals.

Screen Australia will invest almost $20 million across 12 screen projects including futuristic Western The Rover, starring Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce.

The film is the latest collaboration between producer Liz Watts and writer-director David Michôd, following the success of their crime-thriller Animal Kingdom in 2010. FilmNation Entertainment acquired the majority of worldwide rights to The Rover at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year while Village Roadshow will distribute the film in Australia.

Screen Australia has also backed three other feature films: drama Felony, written by Joel Edgerton and directed by Matthew Saville (Noise); Healing, a redemptive prison drama starring Don Hany (East West 101) and Hugo Weaving; and Aim High in Creation, a hybrid documentary-drama about the late Kim Jong-il from writer/director Anna Broinowski (Forbidden Lie$).

Screen Australia chief executive Ruth Harley said the four Australian features have huge potential. "The Rover is a powerful, well-crafted script from a talented team with an impressive cast,...

Seventeen feature films have received support for development by Screen Australia, with a spend totalling $500,000.

The productions include projects involving Emile Sherman, Johnathan Teplitzky, Helen Pankhurst and Jan Sardi.

Martha Coleman, Screen Australia’s head of development, said: “I’m proud of our association with this compelling group of feature projects by such talented filmmaking teams. The quality and range of projects we are seeing is hugely inspiring and our development team care passionately about assisting the filmmakers we are working with to achieve the best possible version of their story. This is a very exciting time.”

Projects include:

Tim Winton’s best selling surfing story, Breath will get an adaptation by Simon Baker producing with Jamie Hilton and Mark Johnson and written by Peter Duncan. Four comedies have received funding including Ali’s Wedding, written by Osamah Sami and Andrew Knight will be developed by producers Helen Panckhurst, Michael McMahon...