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Huge deal as Picnic at Hanging Rock sells to Amazon

Foxtel lands the largest U.S. commercial deal ever for an Australian television series for its 2018 miniseries.

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Foxtel’s Picnic at Hanging Rock has landed the largest U.S. commercial deal ever for an Australian television series, where it will be screened through Amazon Prime Video.

Brian Walsh, Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, “Negotiations between Foxtel, the distributor, Fremantle, and four major American based networks / streaming services, have been in train for many weeks. The partnership with Amazon marks the most lucrative programme sale ever struck for a locally produced television series and Foxtel is delighted with the outcome.

“The placement ensures that U.S audiences will see the outstanding craftsmanship of the Australian film and television industry on display, including the performances of an illustrious group of acting newcomers, who will now have their careers launched on the world stage.

“This is a landmark moment for our industry and for Australian storytelling. We are absolutely thrilled for everyone involved,” he said.

Caroline Kusser, SVP, Sales & Distribution for FremantleMedia International in North America said, “The stylish re-imagining of the provocative Picnic at Hanging Rock story will no doubt capture contemporary audiences across the US. With fantastic scripts, outstanding cast and bold editorial direction from Larysa Kondracki, Picnic at Hanging Rock is set to be a must-see series in 2018. We are thrilled to be working with Amazon Prime Video to bring this powerful drama to US screens.”

However the drama starring Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Parts 1 and 2, In Darkness) as English headmistress Mrs Hester Appleyard, has also been pushed back from a 2017 premiere to 2018.

Picnic at Hanging Rock will plunge viewers into the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and one teacher on Valentine’s Day 1900, taking the audience on a new journey into the revered Australian novel. The complex, interwoven narrative follows the subsequent investigation and the event’s far-reaching impact on the students, families and staff of Appleyard College, and on the nearby township.

The Appleyard College student roles are filled with an exciting contingent of rising stars, including Lily Sullivan (Camp, Jungle) as Miranda Reid, Madeleine Madden (Tomorrow When The War Began, High Life) as Marion Quade, Samara Weaving (Monster Trucks, The Babysitter) as Irma Leopold, Ruby Rees (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) as Edith Horton and introducing Inez Curro as Sara Waybourne.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a FremantleMedia Australia production for Foxtel. Executive producers are FremantleMedia Australia’s Jo Porter and Anthony Ellis and Foxtel’s Penny Win, script producer and establishing writer is Beatrix Christian, Writer Alice Addison, producer Brett Popplewell, directors are Larysa Kondracki, Michael Rymer and Amanda Brotchie. For Amazon, the series will be overseen by Amazon Studios’ Head of International Series Morgan Wandell.

2 Responses

  1. Meh, the original 1975 peter weir film is a classic, no way in the world is this remake going to get anywhere near this. For starters I doubt it will feature the beautiful Gheorghe Zamfir music which featured in the original film.

  2. What a shame then that they had to import a star & director from overseas. Just because they had to import Rachel Roberts for the film in the 1970s doesn’t mean it is acceptable now. Hollywood is awash with Aussie actors & directors.

    Not good enough Foxtel to now hail “The placement ensures that U.S audiences will see the outstanding craftsmanship of the Australian film and television industry on display, including the performances of an illustrious group of acting newcomers, who will now have their careers launched on the world stage”.

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