Starring Iain Glen and Frances O’Connor and featuring designs by Oscar®-winning Weta Workshop, epic drama to debut in 2016.
Red Arrow International and SundanceTV announced today its partnership on “Cleverman,” an epic genre drama featuring a superb ensemble cast led by Scottish actor Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”), Golden Globe® nominee Frances O’Connor (“The Missing”), Deborah Mailman (“The Sapphires”), Hunter Page-Lochard (“The Sapphires”), Rob Collins (“The Lion King”) and Stef Dawson (“The Hunger Games”).
With production set in Sydney, “Cleverman” (6 x 1 hour) is an epic new genre drama produced by Goalpost Pictures Australia and New Zealand’s Pukeko Pictures for ABC TV Australia in co-production with SundanceTV and Red Arrow International, with the assistance of Screen Australia, Screen NSW and the New Zealand Screen Production Grant.
Red Arrow International is distributing the drama worldwide and the show will have its market launch at MIPCOM in October.
‘SundanceTV is becoming the U.S. home to some of the most intriguing and interesting television shows from around the world,’ said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. ‘We’re looking forward to having “Cleverman” join the Golden Globe® winning ‘Carlos,’ France’s International Emmy® winning “The Returned” and other acclaimed series that U.S. viewers can’t find anywhere else. We were drawn to “Cleverman’s” originality, character-driven storylines and thought-provoking nature – qualities central to many of SundanceTV’s signature series.’
Henrik Pabst, Managing Director, Red Arrow International, says: ‘This bold and ambitious project is both hugely original and very timely and relevant in its themes. SundanceTV is the perfect home for the show and we are delighted to be partnering with them to bring ‘Cleverman’ to US viewers.’
Jan Frouman, CEO of Red Arrow Entertainment Group and Executive Producer on the show, says: ”Cleverman’ has been a thrilling journey from the beginning, and we are delighted to work alongside such great partners as SundanceTV and ABC TV Australia.’
Set in the near future, “Cleverman” is a smart, sexy and startlingly original drama that sees a group of non-humans battling for survival in a world where humans feel increasingly inferior to them, and want to silence, exploit and kill them. Central to the drama is the story of two estranged Indigenous brothers who are forced together to fight for their own survival. Otherworldly creatures also emerge into this fragile and dangerous place, in this action-packed new series.
Oscar®-winning, world-renowned Weta Workshop (Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, King Kong, Avatar, The Amazing Spider-Man 3, Godzilla), through their association with Pukeko Pictures, together with Jacob Nash (Bangarra Dance Company) are providing the creature design. Park Road Post Production (The Hobbit films) is providing picture, visual effects and sound post production services.
Wayne Blair, director of the Australian box office hit The Sapphires and upcoming film Septembers of Shiraz, is lead director, with acclaimed director, writer, actress and performer Leah Purcell also directing.
“Cleverman” is based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen. Michael Miller is script producer and writers are Michael Miller, Jon Bell and Jane Allen. Producers are Rosemary Blight and Lauren Edwards for Goalpost Pictures, Ryan Griffen, and, for Pukeko Pictures, Angela Littlejohn, with executive producers Sally Riley, Kylie du Fresne, Ben Grant, Martin Baynton, Adam Fratto, Jan David Frouman, Amelie Kienlin and Irina Ignatiew.
Also at MIPCOM, Red Arrow International will launch previously announced new dramas including event TV movie ‘Peter & Wendy’ starring Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games); Season Two of crime drama ‘Bosch’ (Total: 20 x 1 hour) starring Titus Welliver (Argo); crime series ‘Einstein’ starring Tom Beck (Alarm for Cobra 11); and TV movie ‘Berlin One’ from Wiedemann & Berg – the award-winning producers of The Lives of Others.
About SundanceTV
SundanceTV is making and celebrating television as distinctive as the best independent films. Working with today’s most remarkable talent, SundanceTV is attracting viewer and critical acclaim for its original scripted and unscripted series. Launched in 1996 and owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., SundanceTV delivers on the spirit of founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity. www.sundance.tv
About Goalpost Pictures
Goalpost Pictures is one of Australia’s leading independent film & television production companies. Credits include the hit film The Sapphires, directed by Wayne Blair selected for official selection at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival; the BAFTA nominated series Lockie Leonard; the Emmy award winning Scorched. In 2103 Goalpost Pictures produced the feature film Felony, with director Matthew Saville starring Joel Edgerton alongside Tom Wilkinson, Jai Courtney and Melissa George. Goalpost Pictures has just completed the feature film Holding The Man with director Neil Armfield, starring Ryan Corr, Guy Pearce, Kerry Fox & Anthony La Paglia.
About Pukeko Pictures
Pukeko Pictures is an independent entertainment production company focused on the development and production of excellent quality multi-platform entertainment for a global audience. Pukeko Pictures was formed in 2008 by Sir Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger and Martin Baynton, and is located in Wellington, New Zealand. With a connection to the world famous Weta Workshop (Avatar, King Kong, Lord of the Rings), Pukeko Pictures is uniquely positioned in the creation of world-leading entertainment, harnessing the best in global talent and world-class production processes.