STAN ORIGINAL SCRUBLANDS BEGINS SHOOTING IN RURAL VICTORIA

Streaming platform Stan and the broadcaster 9Network have announced the commencement of production on the original series Scrublands, a new crime limited series starring Luke Arnold and Bella Heathcote and Jay Ryan. Based on the award-winning novel written by Chris Hammer, Scrublands is an Easy Tiger production being brought to life in association with VicScreen.

Set in the isolated country town of Riversend, a charismatic and dedicated young priest calmly opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners. One year later, investigative journalist Martin Scarsden arrives to write a feature story on the anniversary of the tragedy. But when Martin’s instincts kick in and he digs beneath the surface, the previously accepted narrative begins to fall apart and he finds himself in a life and death race to uncover the truth.

The cast also includes a stellar line-up of Australian talent - Zane Ciarma (Neighbours), Adam Zwar (Squinters), Victoria Thaine (Nowhere Boys), Robert Taylor (The Newsreader), Stacy Clausen (True Spirit), Genevieve Morris (The Stan Original Series No Activity) and newcomer Ella Ferris. Scrublands marks the second co-commission between 9Network and Stan, following last year’s ratings hit, Bali 2002.

Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie (pictured, right) said, “Scrublands promises to be a powerful and compulsive crime thriller. Set in Australia’s unforgiving and harsh landscape, Easy Tiger has secured an outstanding core cast in Luke Arnold, Bella Heathcote and Jay Ryan and we look forward to collaborating with them on Scrublands.”

“Joining forces with the teams at Stan and Easy Tiger on Scrublands has realised an ambition we have had since Chris Hammer's novel was published in 2018,” said Nine Director of Television Michael Healy. “We are confident the creative team led by director Greg McLean and lead writer Felicity Packard will adapt Scrublands into television drama for a global audience.” 

International sales of the series are handled by Abacus Media Rights. “Not only does Scrublands have all the ingredients that make for a winning drama – a great script, relatable characters and a strong cast – due to the fact that it’s based on a best-selling crime thriller novel the Scrublands franchise is already well known around the world and we can’t wait to offer this series to our clients,” said Jonathan Ford, Managing Director at Abacus.

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “Victorian locations have been the backdrops to some of the world’s most captivating screen projects, and we are proud to support the highly anticipated adaptation of Chris Hammer’s bestselling novel to shoot in regional Victoria.”