The ABC has confirmed Aaron Pedersen and Judy Davis will star in Mystery Road – The Series, a six part spin-off from Ivan Sen’s internationally acclaimed and award winning feature films Mystery Road and Goldstone. Filming will commence in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia this August.
Detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen) is assigned to investigate the mysterious disappearance of two young farm hands on an outback cattle station. One is a local Indigenous footy hero, and the other a backpacker. Working with local cop Emma James (Judy Davis), Jay’s investigation uncovers a past injustice that threatens the fabric of the whole community.
Directed by Rachel Perkins, produced by David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, Mystery Road – The Series is script produced by Michaeley O’Brien, who writes with Steven McGregor, Kodie Bedford, Jon Bell and Tim Lee, with Ivan Sen and the ABC’s Sally Riley and Kym Goldsworthy as executive producers.
Bunya Productions’ Greer Simpkin said: “It is a great honour to be working with our exceptional lead cast Judy Davis and Aaron Pedersen and accomplished director Rachel Perkins on the Mystery Road series. Our hope is that the series will not only be an entertaining and compelling mystery, but will also say something about the Australian identity.”
ABC TV Head of Drama Sally Riley said: “The ABC is thrilled to have the immense talents of the extraordinary Judy Davis and Aaron Pedersen in this brand-new series of the iconic Australian film Mystery Road. This series promises to be a landmark event for 2018.”
Penny Smallacombe, Head of Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, said: “We’re extremely proud to have supported Mystery Road from its early beginnings as a feature film, through to Goldstone and now as a rich, captivating drama series from the experienced team at Bunya Productions. Television audiences around the world are embracing Indigenous stories and with Rachel Perkins at the helm, a stellar cast on board and stunning locations, the series is set to be a success both in Australia and internationally.”
Michael Brealey, CEO of Create NSW, said: “Create NSW is proud to support NSW production company Bunya and acclaimed director Rachel Perkins, also from Sydney, to bring this high-end television series to the screen. Post-production on the series will take place in Sydney. NSW is experiencing a surge in television production with the two-year $20m Made in NSW fund contributing to a doubling of television production expenditure in the State over the past financial year.”
The series is set to premiere on the ABC in 2018.
