Essie Davis will once again be stepping into the shoes of Miss Phryne Fisher as the popular ABC series has been renewed for a third season.
Set in the 1920s and based on the Kerry Greenwood’s best-selling novels, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries revolves around the life of glamorous private detective Miss Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis).
“We’re so thrilled to be able to deliver this next series,” says co-producer Fiona Eagger. “We have such a loyal fan base that has been so persistent in their loyalty and their need for more Miss Fisher, to be able to give them a third season is a wonderful feeling. I think, for [co-producer Deb Cox] and I, [the loyal fan base] has been an incredible inspiration to keep going.”
Eagger confirmed to IF the much-loved cast would all be returning, and even hinted at some of the plot points for season three.
“We’ve got magic in the next one and we’d like to do one in the military. There’s no end to the inspiration,” she says. “You never know- there might be a wedding!”
“It’s a tough time for the ABC so we are thrilled they are able to bring us back, and to have that support from Film Victoria as well.”
First broadcast on ABC1 on 24 February 2012, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries was an immediate hit, with an average of 1.4million viewers per episode.
In 2013, Series Two maintained its popularity, with an average of 1.5 million viewers per episode, 14% of which was time-shifted viewing.
The show has also been hugely popular internationally, selling to more than 120 overseas territories, including USA, Canada, France, the UK and Asia and Latin America.
“It’s great that this very quintessential Australian character is taking the world by storm,” says Eagger. “I really do think she is a very attractive heroine. She’s the female Australian version of James Bond.”
The third series is currently being written and will start shooting in mid-October in Melbourne.
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is produced by Every Cloud Productions. ABC Executive Producers, Carole Sklan and Sue Masters. Executive Producers and Producers: Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox.