Sean Keenan.
Puberty Blues star Sean Keenan has nabbed the lead role in Ten's Wake in Fright two-parter, which begins shooting today.
Keenan will play John Grant, a young school teacher who descends into his own personal nightmare after being stranded in the small outback mining town of Bundanyabba – the role made famous by Gary Bond in Ted Kotcheff's 1971 original.
Keenan just worked with director Kriv Stenders, who's helming both episodes of the TV redo, on Foxtel telemovie Australia Day.
He's joined in the cast by David Wenham (Seachange, Lion), Caren Pistorius (Offspring), Gary Sweet (House Husbands), Alex Dimitriades (The Slap), Robyn Malcolm (Upper Middle Bogan), Lee Jones (The Bastard Executioner), Anna Samson (Winners & Losers), Hannah Frederiksen (Hunters) and Jada Alberts (Wentworth), with filming to take place in Broken Hill and Sydney.
Written by Stephen M. Irwin, the Wake In Fright mini is produced by Helen Bowden (The Slap, Devil’s Playground) and Kristian Moliere (The Babadook).
"Generations of Australians have had nightmares after reading Kenneth Cook’s 1961 novel Wake In Fright," said Bowden. "Set in one of the most inhospitable places on earth – the outback – this is a story filled with menace and mystery."
“Stephen Irwin’s vivid scripts have attracted the cream of our acting talent. And who better to direct this gripping psychological thriller than Kriv Stenders."
Stenders called it "an honour and thrill to be a part of this incredible project."
"Being able to enter into the world of Kenneth Cook’s original novel of Wake In Fright and imagine a new story from a contemporary perspective has been one of the most creatively exciting experiences of my career so far.”
The TV adaptation is a Lingo Pictures production produced in association with Endemol Shine Australia, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW.
Lingo Pictures’ Jason Stephens and Endemol Shine Australia’s Mark Fennessy and Carl Fennessy are executive producing.