Irreverent drama heads to Netflix

Netflix has co-commissioned new drama Irreverent to be filmed at Mission Beach, Queensland.

The 10 episode drama, set in Australia and produced by Matchbox Pictures, is co-commissioned with Peacock in the United States.

The series centres around an American crook who screws up the heist of his life and is forced to hide out in a small Australian reef community in Far North Queensland posing as the new church Reverend.

Created by Paddy Macrae (Wanted, The Family Law), the writers also include Andrew Knight (Rake, Jack Irish), Andrew Anastasios (Wentworth, Jack Irish), Angela McDonald (Operation Buffalo, Doctor Doctor), Darlene Johnson (The Redfern Story, Crocodile Dreaming).

Que Minh Luu, Netflix Director of Content for ANZ: “We were drawn to Irreverent by its warmth, optimism and celebration of community with a uniquely Australian sense of humour – like Northern Exposure in Far North Queensland. We’re thrilled to work with NBCUniversal International Studios and Matchbox on bringing this premium drama series to life for our ANZ Netflix members.”

Alastair McKinnon, Managing Director, Matchbox Pictures: “Irreverent is a rollicking fish out of water story that is sure to charm audiences around the world with its quirky characters and spectacular tropical Queensland location. We are so fortunate to be partnering with Peacock and Netflix along with a stellar creative team to bring Paddy Macrae’s original idea to dazzling life.”

Executive Producers are Debbie Lee (Hungry Ghosts, Safe Harbour, The Heights) & Andrew Knight with Tom Hoffie, Paddy Macrae as producers. Set up director is Jonathan Teplitzky.

Filming in Australia has been made possible with the support of the Federal Government’s Location Incentive program. Screen Queensland is supporting Irreverent through the Queensland government’s Production Attraction Strategy.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher: “The Morrison Government’s $540 million Location Incentive program is working very effectively to support the Australian screen sector to take advantage of the global boom in high-end content production, attracting substantial international series’ like Irreverent to our shores, generating more than $1.89 billion of expenditure into the Australian economy.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk: “This is one of the three landmark Universal Studios Group productions lured by the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy in 2020. Securing these three productions is a critical part of Queensland’s economic recovery, contributing hundreds of millions to the local economy and importantly creating thousands of local jobs”

Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt: “The Far North is an incredibly diverse backdrop for screen productions. Having productions like Irreverent film here, not only boosts the local economy and creates local jobs, but it shows off our spectacular region. The natural beauty of Queensland’s Far North will be streamed into living rooms across the world, affirming the region’s status not only as a production paradise but also a bucket-list destination for future travel.”

Casting is yet to be announced.