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Foxtel reimagines Picnic at Hanging Rock

Foxtel to revisit an Australian classic with a new 6 part drama in 2017.

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Foxtel has announced a reimagined drama series of Picnic at Hanging Rock with FremantleMedia.

The 6 part series, based on the classic novel by Joan Lindsay, sees three schoolgirls and their governess disappear on Valentine’s Day 1900.

Executive producers are Jo Porter, Anthony Ellis and Penny Win, the producer is Antonia Barnard and writers are Beatrix Christian and Alice Addison.

Foxtel Head of Drama Penny Win said “We are very proud to commission this exciting television event drama exclusively for Foxtel subscribers. Like many others, I am a fan of the 1975 Australian film which was pivotal in establishing the modern Australian film industry. This series, based on the classic novel, will take viewers on a new and in depth journey into this incredibly iconic Australian story.

“Our aim is to provide a rich and diverse slate of Australian drama for our viewers and Picnic at Hanging Rock is a story that we feel will intrigue and enthral a contemporary audience.

FMA’s Jo Porter said “It is testament to the originality of author Joan Lindsay that her novel, charting the chilling mystery of the inexplicable disappearance of the three school girls and their teacher at Hanging Rock and the secrets this event lays bare in its wake, still feels just as fresh, unsettling and relevant today.

“Bea Christian and Alice Addison’s incredible scripts are both brilliant renderings of this mystery and provocative explorations of the underlying themes of gender, control, identity and burgeoning sexuality. The producer is the highly esteemed Antonia Barnard.”

The project is already in pre-production with investment from Screen Australia.

Screen Australia Chief Executive Office Graeme Mason said: “Picnic at Hanging Rock is one of the true icons of the Australian film industry, having launched careers for the likes of Jacki Weaver and John Jarratt. The opportunity to again see this mythic tale on screens for a whole new generation was irresistible, especially in the capable hands of Australian producer Antonia Barnard and FremantleMedia executive producers Jo Porter and Anthony Ellis. With the recent success of The Kettering Incident, we’re thrilled to again be working with Foxtel to bring more premium Australian drama to television screens.”

It will premiere on Showcase in 2017.

13 Responses

      1. They may also use the Secret of Hanging Rock chapter that was published posthumously as well. How they could use it remains to be seen as it enraged a lot of fans of the movie and book.

  1. To save everybody the time I can reveal that the “new and in depth journey” will eventually reveal that the girls were kidnapped by a 60 Minutes crew.

  2. You can see Foxtel’s marketing logic but it has all the potential to turn into an overly long melodrama and then compared to the Peter Weir classic. There are a lot of high quality Australian novels out there which are likely to be much more fertile and interesting ground for the audience. A pretty dull decision by Foxtel. Won’t be watching.

  3. Yeah, Naah, the 1976 peter weir film is a classic, one of the best films to come out of this country, no need for this ‘reimagine’ stuff thanks foxtel. I cannot imagine how making it a 6 hr production will make it better or on par with the classic film, all it is going to do is drag it out for 6 hrs. Won’t be watching this, no matter who is going to be directing it or starring in it.

    1. Ha! Wouldn’t surprise me at all – brooding story, brooding landscapes, reference to alien abduction, etc.
      But seriously, if done well it could be amazing.
      Picnic at Hanging Rock is still one of my all-time favourite Australian movies, even all these years later.

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