Production has begun on new series Miles From Nowhere, produced by Gibson Group and Homegrown Pictures, and distributed by Red Arrow Studios International.

Miles From Nowhere is a bold six-part drama-comedy series about the everyday and not-so-everyday experiences of the Muslim diaspora in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Starring Arlo Green (Nautilus, M3GAN) as Said: a young Kiwi-Muslim songwriter who forms a dangerous friendship with the Security Intelligence Service agent spying on him, risking his whole community to fulfil his dreams.

Set in Auckland, Miles From Nowhere is created and written by award-winning journalist, writer and poet, Mohamed Hassan. This series is not only based on his, and his community’s, experiences but also his role as New Zealand’s foremost reporter on real-world surveillance, counter-terrorism and Islamophobia.

Arlo Green leads the cast after a standout performance in the International Emmy® award-winning series Rūrangi. He will appear alongside Australian Sami Afuni who has been starring in Lin Manuel-Miranda’s Hamilton on stage in Australia. They both come off the new 10-episode Disney+ series Nautilus. Roxie Mohebbi joins them; a multidisciplinary talent, she is well recognised from her roles in Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, Kid Sister, and Netflix’s The New Legends of Monkey but is also known for her public presence, writing, and modelling. The entire cast is an exciting mix of talent, thrilled at the opportunity to represent communities that are often close to their own hearts and underrepresented on our screens.

Said is surrounded by a strong, mainly supportive, and authentic community of characters. Benedict Wall, Bala Murali Shingade, Sherin Darwish, Sneha Shetty, Mustaq Missouri, Hanah Tayeb, Maaka Pohatu and Tom Clarke make up the key cast.

“We want to share a story that uses laughter, music and surrealism to tell a dark but hopeful story about the tribulations of youth, overcoming mental illness and ultimately finding a unique place in the world,” says writer Mohamed Hassan.

Directed by Ghazaleh Golbakhsh. Additional writing by Aamer Rahman (Fear of a Brown Planet) and support from Paul Yates (Wellington Paranormal). Produced by Ahmed Osman of Homegrown Pictures and Gary Scott and Sam Wilton of the Gibson Group with the support of NZ On Air for Sky NZ Originals. International distribution by Red Arrow Studios International.

“The strength of our show lies not only in the potency of Mohamed’s vision but in the accuracy of what’s being shown on-screen. It’s important that our stories show audiences the reality of what it’s like being Muslim-Kiwi in Aotearoa,” says producer Ahmed Osman

“Having a show like this on our slate goes to the heart of Sky NZ Originals’ kaupapa – bringing new, diverse voices to Aotearoa and stories to New Zealanders that will be enjoyed by a broad audience. While Miles From Nowhere is a Muslim story at its heart, its themes are truly universal and we believe they will be embraced by a large local audience while reaching across our shores to a global market,” says Senior Commissioner – Sky NZ Originals, Thomas Robins.

Principal photography commences this week, beginning 17 April 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. Miles From Nowhere, a Sky NZ Originals production, will be available in New Zealand on Prime, Sky Go and Neon in late 2023.