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Netflix announces first Australian original, Tidelands.

Supernatural crime in Queensland marks long-awaited move by Netflix, amid industry concerns.

Netflix has announced its first-ever Australian original series Tidelands, a supernatural crime drama to be filmed in Queensland.

The 10 x 50 min series is produced by Hoodlum Entertainment is written by creator Stephen M. Irwin (Secrets & Lies, Australia Day) with Tracey Robertson, Nathan Mayfield and Leigh McGrath as Executive Producers.

The drama follows a former criminal as she returns home to the small fishing village of Orphelin Bay. When the body of a local fisherman washes ashore, she must uncover the town’s secrets while investigating its strange inhabitants, a group of dangerous half-Sirens, half-humans called “Tidelanders.”

The announcement follows continued industry criticism that the streaming giant was not producing original content, although it has been a partner in co-productions of Glitch, Beat Bugs, Bottersnikes & Gumbles, Kazoops, Mako Mermaids: An H20 Adventure, White Rabbit Project and the upcoming Legend of Monkey.

“We’re proud these strong Australian storytellers are bringing their vision to the first Australian Netflix original series,” said Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series at Netflix. “We can’t wait to bring the mystery of Tidelands to our members around the world.”

“We are excited to be partnering with Netflix on Tidelands — this story is one that has been itching to be told and we are thrilled to be making it on our home soil in Australia with fantastic creatives and highly skilled crews,” said co-creator and co-executive producer Tracey Robertson. “The primeval landscapes of Queensland are a perfect setting to tell the story of betrayal, small town secrets, ancient mythology and, when it comes to family, explore whether blood really is thicker than water.”

Production will start in Queensland in 2018.

5 Responses

  1. Great for the local industry but this sounds like a version of The Kettering Incident…

    Just hope the storytelling improves on the badly crafted Channel 10 Secrets and Lies.

    1. Agreed. As soon as I saw that Irwin was driving this I thought that, if it’s as cliched and corny as Secrets and Lies was, I won’t be watching.

  2. i mean, its good for the industry, although these are very Hollywood connected Australians thru Secrets and Lies, so whether it actually means much for Australian content remains to be seen.
    Meanwhile, siren/mermaid murder isn’t exactly selling me right now tbh but see how it goes

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