Airdate: Mystery Road: Origin

Prequel series Mystery Road: Origin, starring Mark Coles Smith, will launch on ABC in early July.

Coles Smith stars as Young Jay, originally played by Aaron Pedersen, alongside Toby Leonard Moore (Billions), Daniel Henshall (Clickbait), Lisa Flanagan (Total Control), Clarence Ryan (Stateless), Steve Bisley (Mad Max), Caroline Brazier (Rake), Hayley McElhinney (Doctor Doctor), Serene Yunupingu (Ready For This), Kelton Pell (The Heights), Leonie Whyman (New Gold Mountain), Salme Geransar (Clickbait), Nina Young (Harry Potter), Jayden Popik, Grace Chow, with Tuuli Narkle (All My Friends Are Racist) as Jay’s great love, Mary.

The series is directed by Dylan River (Robbie Hood), produced by Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey and written by Blake Ayshford, Steven McGregor, Kodie Bedford, Timothy Lee and Dylan River.

Not to be confused with Curiosity Cul-De-Sac (somebody had to say it!).

The six-part series will explore how a tragic death, an epic love, and the brutal reality of life as a police officer straddling two worlds, form the indelible mould out of which will emerge, Detective Jay Swan.

It’s 1999 and the world is on the cusp of a new century. It’s a time of hope for many and a chance to tell a new story. But some old stories can’t be easily wished away.

Jay Swan, a freshly minted police detective, will discover this harsh truth when he takes up his first posting in a mining town, Jardine, pop. 1000. Jay doesn’t know he is on the verge of a story that will change his life forever.

While in town Jay will be confronted by a series of robberies, perpetrated by a masked gang, that are as random as they are violent. Fingers are pointed at a local hire company with petty crime connections, but the culprits are closer to home. In fact, they are right under Jay’s nose…

Production credit: Mystery Road: Origin is produced by Bunya Productions for the ABC, with major production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest and the Western Australian Screen Fund. Financed in association with Screen NSW, with All3Media International handling international sales.

8.30pm Sunday, 3 July, on ABC, with all six episodes available on ABC iview.