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Cast announced for ABC3’s Tomorrow, When the War Began.

8 young actors will feature in ABC3's teen adventure-drama coming in 2016.

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ABC3 has announced the cast for its small screen adaptation of Tomorrow, When the War Began.

The 6 part adventure-drama, produced by Ambience Entertainment, is based on John Marsden’s bestselling novels.

The cast features Molly Daniels (You’re Skitting Me, The Librarians) as Ellie, Jon Prasida (Hiding) as Lee, Narek Arman (Packed to the Rafters, Dance Academy) as Homer, Madeleine Madden (The Code, Redfern Now) as Corrie, Fantine Banulski (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, You’re Skitting Me) as Robyn, Keith Purcell (Neighbours) as Chris and newcomers Madeleine Clunies-Ross as Fi and Andrew Creer (WAAPA) as Kevin.

They will be joined by Sibylla Budd, Deborah Mailman, James Stewart and Alison Bell.

Producer Michael Boughen said, “This is an exceptional cast of talented performers completely engaged with the material who will bring a new, dynamic energy to the story.”

ABC Head of Children’s TV, Deirdre Brennan said, “We are proud to welcome an outstanding cast to this ground-breaking production for young Australians – an incredible combination of ABC3 alumni, new faces and established local talent. I know our audience will be excited to see these characters brought to life on our screens!”

Director Brendan Maher said “Given the right circumstances everyone can be a hero. Our characters are faced with heart thumping jeopardy and spirit breaking dilemmas. How will they react? John Marsden has given us a truthful, enriching template on how to be the best we can.”

This dramatic adventure series tells the story of a group of teenagers who are separated from their families following an invasion of their country, a conflict they never saw coming. The dilemmas faced by these characters are important and compelling. In a time of rapidly changing world events, the themes of Tomorrow, When the War Began have never been more relevant.

Set to air in 2016, it will shoot in and around Melbourne from September 14.

14 Responses

  1. As the film was a flop and the planned sequels abandoned, putting a story like this on the Kids channel is truly bizarre. Add to that the disaster that was the ‘Red Dawn’ remake which used the same basic plot but in the US and it becomes unfathomable. More Ocean Girl!

    1. Maybe the problem was that those projects tired too hard to come off as edgy and gritty to an older audience who just didn’t care for the concept.

      Perhaps presenting the material to children/tweens would gain more interest in that demographer when there isn’t much else doing that kind of thing in that space.

  2. also liked the books (incl ellie chronicles) agree with @jock maybe many things would be sensored. I was really hoping for them to continue making the movies, but this may signal that it is even more unlikely…

  3. I am a little disappointed about this. I think they have missed a huge opportunity to make this show aimed towards the teens and 20’s demographic.

    I think having it on ABC3 will not encourage those that grew up in the 90’s who are now in their 20’s and 30’s want to watch let alone be aware that is on.

    1. Fans will find it. They’ll hear about it through social media, watch it on iview, buy the DVD etc.

      My concern is that a 5pm audience (I’m guessing 11-15 years olds??) will mean that a lot of the best bits of the story will have to be removed.

      What I’d really love to see is a big budget Netflix adaptation – gritty, intense, suspenseful and with all the mild sexual themes amped up to suit an adult audience. I actually think it could happen, maybe when they get around to some creating some original Aussie content.

      1. Yer that’s what I was thinking of. I think it’s the type of genre that would fit perfectly into a big budget TV series for Netflix of even Foxtel/Showcase. That why I feel it’s a massive shame to make it aimed to teens with I’m assuming a PG rating

    2. I don’t think it’s unfair that a kids book series gets put on the kids channel.
      This might be a well needed boost ABC 3 needs.

      Thing is if ABC advertises it I am sure it will do decently. You sometimes see ABC 1 do ads for programs on ABC 2, it couldn’t hurt them to put in the effort to say “Hey this is on ABC 3.”
      While I do thing ABC 3 is in a desperate need of re-branding a bit, shows like Nowhere Boys seems to prove that when ABC puts in the bother to advertise, the audience does come.

      Also if people are turned off by the simple fact its on ABC 3, they might have not been that interested to begin with.

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