The lags and warders of Wentworth prison will do more time with news that Foxtel has commissioned a third season of 12 episodes from FremantleMedia Australia.
Shooting of season two will continue in Melbourne until mid-February and the show will resume filming in March.
The reimagining of Prisoner has sold to more than 20 countries including the UK’s Channel 5, Ireland TV3, Africa’s MNET, TVNZ and Sweden’s TV4. A German-language remake is in production for German network RTL, owned by Fremantle’s parent the RTL Group.
The premiere on Foxtel’s SoHo channel in May 2013 was the most watched non-sports program ever on Australian pay-TV. Across the 10 episodes Wentworth reached 1.868 million unique viewers – 26% of Foxtel subscribers.
On series two the directors are Kevin Carlin, Catherine Millar, Dee McLachlan, Pino Amenta and Steve Jodrell. The writing team comprises Marcia Gardner (script producer), Timothy Hobart (story editor), John Ridley, Pete McTighe and Adam Todd.
Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said, “Wentworth’s first season was a triumph with its remarkable performance and production qualities which enthralled our Australian audience and achieved such great international recognition. Since October, the cast and the production team, led by producer Amanda Crittenden, have been back on location delivering on the promise of season two’s gripping scripts and the storylines for season three are sensational.”
FremantleMedia Australia Director of Drama Jo Porter said, “Foxtel have been the perfect broadcast partner and have given Wentworth the ideal platform for it to achieve such success both domestically and then internationally. To have this unique Australian program now airing across the globe fills us with great pride. The commissioning of series three is such a compliment to the hard work and talent of the writers, directors, our outstanding cast and of course the crew, most of whom have been with us since series one. We look forward to continuing our success both here and overseas."