Filming wraps on new SBS digital Latecomers

Filming has wrapped on a new comedy drama Latecomers as part of SBS, NITV, and Screen Australia’s Digital Originals initiative.

The project follows two strangers with cerebral palsy, Frank (Angus Thompson) and Sarah (Hannah Diviney) who, after watching their carers hook up at a bar, become determined to explore their own relationships with sex, and each other. Bold, hilarious, and at times heart wrenching, the series is both an expression and representation of the intricacies of sex and disability.

Writer, and disability and women’s rights advocate Hannah Diviney features in her first ever acting role alongside actor and co-creator Angus Thompson (The Angus Project), New Zealand actor Miriama Smith (Filthy Rich, Harrow) and Patrick Jhanur (Sea Patrol, Troppo). Supporting cast include Tracy Mann (Top End Wedding), Emily Havea (Wentworth), Tom Wilson (Heartbreak High), Brittany Santariga (Fighting Season), Amy Kersey (The Twelve), Piper Brown and Liam Greinke.

SBS Commissioning Editor, Loani Arman said: “We’re incredibly proud and excited to share Latecomers with the SBS audience. The series is not only pure joy, but it’s a story that is otherwise under-represented on Australian screens. It will have viewers laughing and crying, as Sarah and Frank navigate their way through the highs and lows of love and sex.”

Co-writer & Co-creator Emma Myers said: “Latecomers was created to combat the assumptions people have about the intimate lives of men and women living with disabilities. Too often characters with disabilities are shown leading sexless lives… with Latecomers, Angus, Nina and I saw an opportunity to explore intimacy and disability on screen in a realistic and authentic way.

“Angus wanted to show his real-life experiences of failure and heartbreak, whereas I wanted to create a narrative in which a disabled character questions her worth as both a young woman and romantic partner. Through combining these ideas, we created a series that asks, “how far would you go to be seen sexually?”

Screen Australia’s Head of Online Lee Naimo said: “We’ve been so impressed with Latecomers at every stage of development and production, and we’re so proud that it’s part of the Digital Originals initiative. The team have created an edgy and emotionally charged series that’s funny, engaging and authentic.”

Latecomers will premiere on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand later this year, subtitled in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.

Written and created by Emma Myers, Angus Thompson, and acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer Nina Oyama (The Angus Project, Tonightly with Tom Ballard, Utopia), Latecomers draws from the trio’s lived experiences, from both Nina’s perspective as a carer and Emma and Angus as individuals with cerebral palsy.

Latecomers is directed by Madeleine Gottlieb (You and Me, Before and After) and Alistair Baldwin (writer on The Weekly, Hard Quiz) and produced by Hannah Ngo (Iggy & Ace, Tribunal) and Liam Heyen (Top End Wedding, New Gold Mountain).

Digital Originals is a joint initiative of Screen Australia, SBS, and NITV, aimed at developing exciting and innovative short-form drama projects to premiere as a single episode program on SBS platforms.

The initiative is designed to support screen creatives currently under-represented in the sector, including people who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, First Nations Australians, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTIQ+ and those who are located in regional and remote areas.

Latecomers received principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with the assistance of Screen NSW.