2024 Upfronts: Foxtel / Binge / Kayo

• Feature film: How to Make Gravy
• New & returning dramas: The Last Anniversary, High Country, Strife, Mix Tape, The Twelve
• Returning comedy: Colin From Accounts S2
• Docusoap: Billion Dollar Playground
• Returning lifestyle: Selling Houses Australia, Gogglebox, Great Australian Bake Off
• Sport: AFL, NRL, BBL & International Cricket, NBL, Super Netball, Supercars, Formula 1, WWE

There are five new dramas plus returning comedy and drama coming to Foxtel / Binge from December with marquee names including Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill, Leah Purcell, Asher Keddie and Aaron Pedersen.

Foxtel Group unveiled its “Most Watchable’ slate across its platforms for 2024 at a presentation on Cockatoo Island, hosted by Mitch McTaggart.

Feature film How to Make Gravy, based on a song by Paul Kelly, will feature Hugo Weaving and French actress Agathe Rouselle. John Polson directs The Last Anniversary, from Made Up Stories and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films.

Previously-announced drama Strife, starring Asher Keddie, based on Mia Freedman’s memoir will premiere in December. Also previously-announced is mystery thriller High Country, the final commission by the late Brian Walsh, with Leah Purcell, Aaron Pedersen, Sara Wiseman and Ian McElhinney. The Twelve, with Sam Neill and Frances O’Connor has been filming in WA. UK co-production Mix Tape is a classic boy-meets-girl love story with a banging ‘1980s soundtrack.

Colin From Accounts will also head back into production while international titles include new seasons of True Detective and Vigil (some US titles are ‘anticipated’ but may be strike affected, while House of the Dragon is yet to be confirmed).

Amongst the returning lifestyle shows is Great Australian Bake Off with Cal Wilson’s final season – the Upfront included a tribute acknowledging her comedy and entertainment career.

FOX Sports and Kayo are home to more AFL, NRL, BBL & International Cricket, NBL, Super Netball, Supercars, Formula 1, WWE and more.

Amanda Laing, Chief Content & Commercial Officer, Foxtel Group & Managing Director Binge, said: “The Foxtel Group has a long history of bringing critically-acclaimed Australian stories to the screen and we remain a committed champion for local, ground-breaking stories and voices in all genres. Many of these stories have been watched by millions globally, having been sold and screened in a number of international markets following their premiere on Binge and Foxtel.

“We continue to be the partner of choice for the world’s biggest studios and content producers, providing an unmatched content slate from the largest and most diverse pipeline of partners globally.

“This ensures that our Binge and Foxtel customers will continue to have access to the very best TV shows and movies from Australia and around the world, catering for every taste and every viewer.”

All content coming to Binge will also be available to Foxtel customers.

New:

How to Make Gravy
An adaptation of Paul Kelly’s iconic Australian song, now in production on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Set to star in the film includes highly regarded actor Daniel Henshall, Australian icon, Hugo Weaving, celebrated French actress Agathe Rouselle along with a number of Australian stars including Brenton Thwaites, Damon Herriman and Kate Mulvany. It will also feature cameo performances from Australian musicians, Adam Briggs and Dallas Woods. How to Make Gravy was adapted for the screen by award-winning musician Meg Washington and Nick Waterman, who will also direct. Academy Award-nominated producer, Schuyler Weiss will produce alongside Washington, Waterman and Hamish Lewis. Produced by Warner Bros. Int. TV Production Aus.

The Last Anniversary
An adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty, produced by Made Up Stories and Blossom Films and directed by John Polson, with production set to begin this year.

Strife (premieres Dec 6)
From Made Up Stories, and starring Australian icon Asher Keddie with all 8-episodes dropping at once. Inspired by Mia Freedman’s memoir, “Work, Strife, Balance”, Strife is set in the ever-changing world of publishing during the emerging digital age.

High Country
An eight-part mystery thriller starring Leah Purcell, Aaron Pedersen, Sara Wiseman and Ian McElhinney, and tells the story of detective Andrea (Andie) Whitford (Purcell) who is transferred to the Victorian High Country, where she is thrust into a baffling mystery of five missing persons who have vanished into the wilderness.

Mix Tape
A four-part event miniseries adapted from the popular and critically acclaimed novel by Jane Sanderson and is Binge’s first international co-production. Beginning in Sheffield, England in 1989 with Daniel and Alison’s all-encompassing teenage romance, forever etched in their memories through the music of their generation. To the modern day reality of their adult relationships, now living on opposite sides of the world.

Billion Dollar Playground
A new docu-soap reality original series, which takes viewers into the exclusive world of uber-wealthy guests who pay a premium for high-end vacation homes, as world-class staff service their round the clock demands.

Returning:

The Twelve
Season 2 starring celebrated international actor Sam Neill who reprises his role as Brett Colby, SC alongside Frances O’Connor as Meredith Nelson-Moore, SC in this gripping crime drama which follows a controversial murder trial seen through the lens of the jurors – 12 ordinary Australians who are facing their own realities and struggles.

Colin From Accounts
Production of Season 2 of smash-hit comedy series, Colin From Accounts, created and written by and starring Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall starts in Sydney in the coming months.

Selling Houses Australia
Season 16 with hosts Andrew Winter, Wendy Moore and Dennis Scott.

Gogglebox Australia / Celebrity Gogglebox Australia also set to return in 2024.

Great Australian Bake Off
In her final role the late Cal Wilson hosts alongside judges Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese and fellow host Natalie Tran.

International:

True Detective: Night Country, starring Academy Award-winner and Emmy-nominated Jodie Foster premiering 15 January; Bookie, from creator Chuck Lorre and starring Charlie Sheen, this darkly funny comedy follows veteran Los Angeles bookie as the potential legalisation of sports gambling in California threatens to upend his business for good;
The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name;
The Regime, starring Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet, which tells the story of one year within the walls of the palace of a modern European regime as it begins to unravel;
Ted, based on the live-action/CGI box office hit and sequel from “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane;
Vigil S2, starring Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie in a brand-new investigation as they enter the secret world of drone warfare to catch a killer.

Anticipated titles:
Apples Never Fall, based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, and starring Sam Neill and Annette Bening;
Feud Capote vs The Swans, starring Naomi Watts, Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald and produced by Ryan Murphy
Belgravia: The Next Chapter, taking place 24 years from the series Belgravia..

Sport:

In sport, 2024 will launch with a huge summer of Cricket including every Australian Men’s and Women’s home international, every match of the BBL and WBBL, plus major domestic and international matches Live and ad break free during play on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

As a key broadcast partner of ESPN in Australia, Kayo Sports and Foxtel are proud to be bringing all  NBL and select WNBL games, plus select NBA games, across the summer. In addition, sports fans can watch NFL’s showpiece events Live.

March will also see the return of winter codes with every game of every round of the AFL and NRL to be broadcast Live and ad break free during play. In 2024, the NRL will kick off in a big way with the opening round being staged in Las Vegas, and FOX League will be the only place to watch both games including the exclusive season opener between the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs, Live. FOX League will be on ground with Matty Johns and NRL 360 Live from Las Vegas to catch all the build up.

Sports fans will also be able to watch every match of the Super Netball Season along with Australian International Tests and the Quad Series plus all the Supercars and Formula 1 events along with Main Event Boxing and UFC, Golf, AFLW, NRLW, NFL, Surfing and plenty more, as part of an unrivalled sport offering.

Plus all the WWE action including WWE Elimination Chamber live from Perth in February 2024.

Absent:
Love Me
Real Housewives of Sydney
FBoy Island
RocKwiz
Upright
Love It or List It Australia
Selling in the City
The Back Side of Television
The Last Year of Television (update: I understand returning)
The Repair Shop
SKY News programming