Red Arrow International and SundanceTV have stuck a deal to distribute Australian production Cleverman internationally.
The epic genre series, to be shot in Sydney, will feature an ensemble cast led by Scottish actor Iain Glen (Game of Thrones), Golden Globe nominee Frances O’Connor (The Missing), Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires), Hunter Page-Lochard (The Sapphires), Rob Collins (The Lion King) and Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games).
Cleverman, (6 x 1 hour) is produced by Goalpost Pictures Australia and New Zealand’s Pukeko Pictures for ABC TV Australia in co-production with SundanceTV and Red Arrow International, with the assistance of Screen Australia, Screen NSW and the New Zealand Screen Production Grant.
Red Arrow International is distributing the drama worldwide and the show will have its market launch at MIPCOM in October.
AMC and SundanceTV president of orgiginal programming and development, Joel Stillerman, said SundanceTV was becoming the US home to some of the most intriguing and interesting television shows from around the world.
“We’re looking forward to having Cleverman join the Golden Globe winning ‘Carlos,’ France’s International Emmy winning ‘The Returned’ and other acclaimed series that US viewers can’t find anywhere else.
"We were drawn to ‘Cleverman’s’ originality, character-driven storylines and thought-provoking nature – qualities central to many of SundanceTV’s signature series.”
Red Arrow International, managing director, Henrik Pabst, said it was a bold and ambitious project that was both hugely original and very timely and relevant in its themes.
"SundanceTV is the perfect home for the show and we are delighted to be partnering with them to bring ‘Cleverman’ to US viewers.”
Red Arrow Entertainment Group chief executive, Jan Frouman, who is also executive producer on the show, said Cleverman had been a thrilling journey from the beginning.
"We are delighted to work alongside such great partners as SundanceTV and ABC TV Australia.”
Set in the near future, Cleverman is a smart, original drama that sees a group of non-humans battling for survival in a world where humans feel increasingly inferior to them, and want to silence, exploit and kill them.
Central to the drama is the story of two estranged Indigenous brothers who are forced together to fight for their own survival. Otherworldly creatures also emerge into this fragile and dangerous place, in this action-packed new series.
Weta Workshop (Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, King Kong, Avatar, The Amazing Spider-Man 3, Godzilla), through their association with Pukeko Pictures, together with Jacob Nash (Bangarra Dance Company) are providing the creature design.
Park Road Post Production (The Hobbit films) is providing picture, visual effects and sound post production services.
Wayne Blair, director of the Australian box office hit The Sapphires and upcoming film Septembers of Shiraz, is lead director, with director, writer, actress and performer Leah Purcell also directing.
Cleverman is based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen. Michael Miller is script producer and writers are Michael Miller, Jon Bell and Jane Allen.
Producers are Rosemary Blight and Lauren Edwards for Goalpost Pictures, Ryan Griffen, and, for Pukeko Pictures, Angela Littlejohn, with executive producers Sally Riley, Kylie du Fresne, Ben Grant, Martin Baynton, Adam Fratto, Jan David Frouman and Amelie Kienlin.