(l-r): Jay Ryan, Ewen Leslie (seated), George Pullar, Paul De Gelder, Marco Alosio and Julian Maroun (seated). (Photo: Mark Rogers).
Shooting begins this week in Sydney on Fighting Season, a new Foxtel drama that follows Australian soldiers returning from Afghanistan.
The six-part series looks at a possible cover-up where the “lines between killer and family man, between hero and victim, between truth and imagination, are constantly shifting.”
Producer Kylie du Fresne said the series is based on extensive research and interviews with former soldiers about their time in Afghanistan and the realities of coming home and reintegrating into society.
A Goalpost Pictures production, the show will be helmed by director Kate Woods (Looking for Alibrandi), who returns to Australia after a decade working in the US on programs like Law and Order SVU and Suits. Wasted on the Young’s Ben Lucas will also direct.
The cast is led by Jay Ryan (Beauty and the Beast, Top of the Lake), Ewen Leslie (Top of the Lake, The Daughter), and Kate Mulvany (Secret City, The Great Gatsby).
Fighting Season will also star George Pullar (A Place to call Home), Marco Alosio, Julian Maroun, Paul De Gelder, Sarah Armanious and Sabryna Walters as well as Lucy Bell, Lex Marinos, David Roberts, Camilla Ah Kin, Ching Po and Jay Lagaiai in supporting roles.
The script has been penned by Blake Ayshford, whose recent credits include Barracuda and Devil’s Playground. Ayshford will also produce, along with du Fresne and Elisa Argenzio. Executive Producers are Foxtel’s head of drama Penny Win and Goalpost’s Rosemary Blight and Ben Grant.
“With exquisite scripts and a talented cast, along with directors Kate Woods and Ben Lucas, Foxtel is looking forward to Goalpost delivering an amazing drama,” said Win.
Fighting Season has development and production investment from Screen Australia and Screen NSW. Shooting will take place in Sydney and on location in Broken Hill.
Sky Vision will handle worldwide distribution outside of Australia and New Zealand.