Filming underway on Total Control S2

Filming is underway on one Season 2 of Total Control for the ABC.

Reprising their roles Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths with returning cast Rob Collins, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson, Wes Patten, Lisa Flanagan and Harry Richardson.

They are joined by by Wayne Blair, who will also direct all six episodes, comedian Steph Tisdell who steps into her first dramatic role, Alex Dimitriades, Colin Friels, Harry Greenwood, Rob Carlton, Daniella Farinacci, Brenna Harding, Benedict Hardie, and Anita Hegh.

The series which saw political newcomer Alex Irving (Mailman) engineer a remarkable coup against Prime Minister Rachel Anderson (Griffiths), was recently announced for a US adaptation.

Season two, written by Stuart Page, Larissa Behrendt, Angela Betzien, Pip Karmel and Nakkiah Lui, sees Alex running as an Independent. She’ll be ready for the inevitable dirty campaign tactics and to compete against the well-financed machinery of the major parties. Making her job harder, she’ll be confronted by vile online trolls, threats against her family and political opponents riled by the audacity of a Black woman standing up for the voiceless. Can Alex survive a system determined to shake everything she values?

Deborah Mailman said, “It’s a great feeling to be on set as the cameras roll on season two. We have a fabulous team of cast and crew, the scripts are fantastic, and I’m loving getting back into the skin of Senator Alex Irving as she continues her fight in the corridors of Parliament. I can’t wait for people to see the continuation of this story.”

Rachel Griffiths said, “In the wake of the announcement of the American remake of Total Control and the first seasons’ huge success, I couldn’t be more excited to start filming our second season. I have no doubt that it will be as startlingly relevant and deeply emotional as our first, and that fans will be riveted as they follow Deb Mailman’s epic journey through the rapids of power.”

Filming takes place in Sydney, Canberra – including at Parliament House – and Broken Hill, and will premiere on the ABC later this year.

Production credit: A Blackfella Films production. Major production investment from the ABC and Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department. Financed with support from Screen NSW with Screen Queensland and Screen ACT. Producer Darren Dale. Executive Producers Rachel Griffiths and Stuart Page. ABC Executive Producers Kelrick Martin and Sally Riley. International Distributor is All3Media International.