Desert King drama filming for Netflix

Production has begun on a six-part neo-western drama Desert King (working title) for Netflix, now filming  on the traditional land of the Larrakia people (Darwin, Northern Territory) and the Kaurna people (Adelaide, South Australia).

When the world’s largest cattle station is left without a clear successor, generational clashes threaten to tear the Lawson family apart. Sensing this once great dynasty is in decline, the outback’s most powerful factions – rival cattle barons, desert gangsters, Indigenous elders and billionaire miners – move in for the kill. Desert King is described as an explosive drama about power, family, land and legacy.

A joint production between Easy Tiger and Ronde, the series is created by Tim Lee (Mystery Road, Bump) and Ben Davies; executive produced by Ben Davies (Bondi Rescue, The First Inventors, Outback Ringer), Rob Gibson and Ian Collie (The Twelve, Jack Irish, Colin from Accounts); produced by Paul Ranford (Stateless, True History of the Kelly Gang) and directed by Greg McLean (La Brea, Wolf Creek).

Netflix Director of Content ANZ, Que Minh Luu says, “Desert King is the ultimate tale of big land, big money and all the high-stakes drama that come with it. We’re excited to be shooting our next premium Australian series in the Northern Territory for the first time, where this epic family drama is set, and at the world-class production facilities in South Australia. We’re working with some of Australia’s leading creators and crew to bring to life a version of this country we’re proud to show to our members both here at home and around the world.”

Executive Producers Ben Davies and Rob Gibson say, “We’re beyond excited to be heading into the remote outback to make this epic and distinctively Australian drama for audiences worldwide on Netflix. And we’re thrilled to have assembled an incredibly creative team, on- and off-screen, to do justice to the rarely-seen world, characters and stories of the Top End—a place where timeless meets modern, and where landscape is life and livelihood, but also mortal danger. More soon!”

Director of Screen Territory Jennie Hughes says: “We are thrilled to be working again with Ben Davies of Ronde who has a long history with the NT through productions such as Outback Ringer and The First Inventors. We are also delighted to welcome the Easy Tiger team to the NT and to have the opportunity to work with one of the best production companies in Australia. This is an ambitious Netflix series which could not have been made anywhere else but in the Territory. It captures the vastness, beauty and scale of the Territory, which is going to give this project an unparalleled sense of authenticity, aesthetic and audience appeal. Desert King features all the ingredients to become a flagship Australian series with an extraordinary cast and crew featuring Australia’s finest talents. This is the largest series ever to be filmed in the NT and Screen Territory is delighted to have contributed production finance through its Production Attraction Incentive Program to assist in bringing Desert King to the NT where it belongs.”

SAFC CEO Kate Croser says: “We are delighted to welcome Netflix back to South Australia along with award-winning production companies Easy Tiger and Ronde for Desert King, set to be the largest Netflix series ever made in the state. This major new series is the latest exciting example of the fruitful screen production alliance that exists between South Australia and Northern Territory, where the SAFC’s flexible Adelaide Studios production facilities, coupled with South Australia’s world-class crews and PDV providers, provides the perfect base for productions filming at locations across both regions. The SAFC is proud to support this exciting new series which will utilise a majority South Australian crew comprising post-production services and key creatives, including top South Australian producer Paul Ranford, and which will once again provide a showcase for our state’s screen production capability and talent.”

The series is backed by Northern Territory Government’s Production Attraction Incentive Program (PAIP) and by funding from the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) through the SAFC Screen Production Fund. The PAIP provides an opportunity to attract large-scale Australian and international footloose productions to the Territory to build capacity of the local screen industry whilst contributing to the NT economy through employment and goods and services.

Post-production is also taking place in South Australia, supported by the SAFC’s SA Post-Production, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Rebate.

Prior to production, Netflix and Screen Territory partnered on the First Nations Production Ready Bootcamp to support 10 First Nations participants by providing a comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of screen production, while also preparing them for trainee and attachment positions.