Deborah Mailman (Photo: Tim Bauer).
Deborah Mailman, Colin Friels, Wayne Blair, Anthony Hayes, Ernie Dingo, John Waters, Aaron McGrath, Tasma Walton, Madeleine Madden, Kris McQuade, Meyne Wyatt, Tasia Zalar and Ningali Lawford Wolf are set to star alongside Aaron Pedersen and Judy Davis in ABC six-parter Mystery Road – The Series.
A spin-off of Ivan Sen’s feature films Mystery Road and Goldstone, the series, produced by Bunya Productions’ David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, is set to begin production this week in WA’s East Kimberley region.
Pedersen reprises his role of detective Jay Swan, this time assigned to investigate the disappearance of two farmhands on an outback cattle station; one a local Indigenous footy hero, the other a backpacker. Working together with local cop Emma James (Davis), Jay’s investigation uncovers a past injustice that threatens the fabric of the whole community.
Rachel Perkins will helm the series, which is being script produced by Michaeley O’Brien, who writes with Steven McGregor, Kodie Bedford, Jon Bell and Tim Lee. Ivan Sen and the ABC’s Sally Riley and Kym Goldsworthy are executive producers.
Funding support for the production comes from Screenwest, the Western Australian Regional Film Fund supported by Royalties for Regions, Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department and Create NSW, in association with all3media International, who will handle the international sales.
The series is set to premiere on the ABC in 2018.