Hunted more open about their gameplay in season three

In its third season, Hunted is looking to be more authentic about show’s gameplay.

“This year we lean a lot into the fact that Hunted is a game and how you play that game. But the Hunters all treat it exactly as if it was a real life hunt,” Director of Content, Endemol Shine Australia Marty Benson tells TV Tonight.

“We’re saying it upfront now. We’re trying to be even more open about the rules and how this game works.

“In the very, beginning of the series, there’s a title card that says words to the effect of, ‘In the game of Hunted, the hunters are able to replicate the powers of state, such as CCTV and number plate recognition to help them in their investigation.’

“We’re very open about the fact that each couple is followed by an embedded producer / director, somebody who follows them with a camera at all times, and we show them time and time again. Even in the promos Channel 10 are really leaning into the rules of the game: they must move every couple of days, they must use friends and family as contacts. They can also use strangers.

“I think the more honest we are, the better it will be received.”

The change comes after Australian viewers were sceptical about how some scenes were replicated and aerial shots that did not match locations described.

“We’re very aware of that and I don’t think you’ll see that again.”

But the biggest change for Season 3 is a bank heist at the top the series with the nine Fugitive teams told there is a million dollars up for grabs. Whatever cash they steal will be theirs -if they can make it to the extraction point after 20 days on the run.

The plot twist draws upon a UK series The Heist, also produced by Endemol Shine, in which Brits were tasked with a faux robbery before resuming their normal lives with the cash in their kitty.

“We got inspired by that show and we’ve kind of combined the two ideas,” Benson continues. “We’ve brought in the heist to the start of Hunted and it makes more sense, because now essentially our Fugitives are actually on the run. They’ve committed a crime but obviously, we’re not pretending this is a real bank. We’re setting it up as a real challenge, to have all the difficulties that they would face should they try and rob a real bank,” he continues.

“The robbery happens in the middle of the night. There’s nobody there but there’s obviously alarms and they need to break through walls, break through bars, they have to smash windows. They have to get into safe rooms they have to try and crack open safes.

“Without giving too much away they don’t get all of their money, but they get a large chunk of it. They have to decide as a pair which one of the two of them is going to plan their getaway, and which one of the two of them is going to be part of the robbery.”

Amongst the Fugitive teams this year are influencers, rally car drivers, an AFLW player, bodybuilders and a comedian.

“They’re only known in their circles… sort of big in their own pond, but not household names,” says Paramount’s Head of Creative Production & Entertainment Tamara Simoneau.

“It’s a very mixed bag, which is what you’re always going for, who come from all walks of life…there’s a big age range, from people in the very early 20s, to people in their 50s and nudging 60.

“There’s a lot of people that I think viewers will misjudge. There’s some people that the Hunters a 100% misjudge, and you’ll see that play out which is really interesting. Obviously older people come with life experience to get their way around. Younger people come with potential charm and a really savvy digital database. So it’s interesting to see which of those skills gets which team further and faster.”

Filming took place across February / March in Victoria.

Leading the Hunted HQ team is Reece Dewar OAM who steps up from Deputy, with Ben Owen as Deputy, with four teams of Ground Hunters (Team Alpha, Team Bravo, Team Charlie and Team Delta). The Hunters simulate the powers of surveillance available to the state, such as CCTV, ANPR (automatic number plate recognition), telecommunication information and access to bank and phone records. For the first time, they will also have access to AI technology, and will be able to search Fugitives’ homes, data-mine their electronic equipment and question family, friends, and associates.

“Technology for the Fugitives is their enemy,” Simoneau suggests. “They have to go full old school. They have to beg people on the streets to give them a lift and let them stay over. The field producer / director gig is actually one of the most unique jobs on the telly because they just sign up to go on the run with them. They have to sleep where they sleep, in strangers houses, night after night. They’re running and they can’t miss a beat… you’re essentially being a Fugitive yourself.”

“It’s the only show I’ve ever done that has two weeks of rehearsals in advance,” adds Benson. “I used to make the UK version of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. That was one week of rehearsals and that’s a massive show. Here we have two weeks of rehearsals of our embedded producer / directors running about with stand-ins.”

Like any bank robbery, spending the money comes with great risk, with traceable notes also able to be detected. Fugitives only have $300 on a debit card. Every move they make is being watched, all of which should make for a fun TV game of cat and mouse for viewers.

“You start sensing their paranoia is real and they’re hungry,” Benson continues. “They’ve not been washing, you see them knocking on doors and people just saying ‘no chance,’ and eventually when somebody helps them you see people weeping …it’s a really really tough game.”

Hunted: The Million Dollar Heist begins 7.30pm Monday, 12 August on 10.