The story of one of New Zealand’s most intriguing maritime survival stories will be brought to life in the enthralling tele-feature Abandoned for TVNZ's TV One.
Featuring international star Dominic Purcell (Prison Break, Equilibrium, Blade: Trinity), the two-part drama will recount the gripping story of the Trimaran, Rose Noelle, and her four crew who went missing on a voyage to Tonga in 1989. After an exhaustive search they were given up for dead.
Having capsized in a storm, the four men drifted on the upturned yacht for a harrowing 119 days before being cast ashore on the unforgiving coast of Great Barrier Island.
Their miraculous survival was only the beginning. A media frenzy developed and with it doubts around the veracity of their story. The four men, already traumatised by their experience, were thrust into a new nightmare.
Greg Johnson (The Insatiable Moon, Agent Anna), Peter Feeney (Black Sheep) and Owen Black (Shortland Street) make up the core cast playing the crew who endured the disaster.
TVNZ Commissioner of Drama Tina McLaren says: “The incredible story of the Rose Noelle garnered worldwide attention and is etched into New Zealand’s history. It is a captivating story of the struggle for survival, not only through the devastation of the shipwreck, but the skepticism and hostility that surrounded the crews astonishing voyage back from the dead.”
Abandoned is based on the book, The Spirit of Rose Noelle, written by survivor John Glennie, the owner and skipper of the ill-fated Trimaran.
Executive Producer of Making Movies James Heyward says: “In collaboration with TVNZ and NZ On Air the producers, cast and crew are looking forward to bringing the extraordinary story of the Rose Noelle and her crew to the screen.”
Abandoned is executive produced by James Heyward and produced by Liz DiFore for Making Movies and commissioned by Tina McLaren (TVNZ). The production was funded by New Zealand On Air.
Abandoned will commence shooting this week and will screen on TV One later this year.