ABC 2027 Upfront: Rural Crime Unit begins filming in South Australia – Cameras are rolling in Adelaide on Rural Crime Unit, a six-part Australian drama led by Rebecca Gibney, Morgana O’Reilly and Philip Lynch. The series will air on ABC TV and stream on ABC iview in 2027.
The production moves the ABC’s 2027 drama slate from announcement into filming. Its cases grow out of regional life – including missing livestock and industrial theft – while a decade-old tragedy gives the series a mystery that runs across all six episodes. The ABC has not yet announced a premiere date or broadcast time.
The South Australian location is central to more than the story’s backdrop. The production is being filmed wholly in the state with a majority South Australian crew, giving local locations and screen workers a prominent place in the ABC’s national drama line-up.
Rita, Nick and a town with buried secrets
O’Reilly plays Rita, a seasoned local police officer who knows the town and its residents. Lynch is Nick, a city transplant learning how policing works when almost everyone knows one another. Their investigations range from crop circles to livestock disappearances and industrial theft, but the separate cases sit above a larger mystery connected to a tragedy ten years earlier.
Gibney plays Rita’s mother Jolene, a self-made trucking magnate and powerful town matriarch. Her generosity and connections give her influence across the community. Yet her fierce support for Rita can also become an obstacle for her daughter, adding a family tension to the policing story.
The supporting cast includes Cameron Daddo, Tony Armstrong, Courtney Act/Shane Jenek, Rob Collins, Shakira Clanton, Ash Ricardo and Michael Theo. The ABC has not yet specified their characters, so their connections to Rita, Nick and Jolene remain to be revealed.
ABC Head of Scripted Rachel Okine said the mix of mystery and character was intended to capture the complexity of regional Australia.
Rural Crime Unit celebrates the charm and complexity of country Australia, and we can’t wait to share it with ABC audiences. We’re proud to be bringing this story to life with such an incredible cast and crew, and it has a warmth and humour we think Australians will fall in love with.
Rachel Okine, ABC Head of Scripted
South Australian production and creative team
Darren Ashton and Adam Zwar created Rural Crime Unit for Northern Pictures. Ashton and Erin White direct, while the writing team comprises Zwar, Ashton, Christine Bartlett, Erica Harrison, Eloise Healey, Joshua Tyler and Kim Ho. Joe Weatherstone produces; Shannon Wilson-McClinton co-produces. Matt Vitins is executive producer, with Rebecca Anderson and Rachel Okine executive producing for the ABC.
Ashton said his own upbringing in regional Australia shaped the series.
As a country boy who grew up in regional Australia, it took me thirty years to find the right way to celebrate its true and diverse tapestry – to tell the stories that make this land what it is. Rural Crime Unit is where it all comes together, and we’re incredibly grateful to the ABC, Screen Australia, SAFC, and Screen NSW for backing the show and helping us bring it to life.
Darren Ashton, co-creator
SAFC Acting CEO Leanne Saunders said the series is being made through the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund. She singled out South Australian director Erin White and writer Joshua Tyler, as well as the majority local crew.
We’re proud to welcome Northern Pictures back to South Australia to bring another exciting drama series to life through the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund. Filmed wholly in South Australia with an outstanding cast and creative team including SA director Erin White and SA writer Joshua Tyler with a majority South Australian crew, Rural Crime Unit will showcase our beautiful regional locations and industry capability to a national audience.
Leanne Saunders, SAFC Acting CEO
The ABC and Screen Australia provide major production investment in association with the SAFC. Screen NSW supports post-production, digital and visual effects, while Banijay will distribute the series internationally.
When and where to watch Rural Crime Unit
Rural Crime Unit is due on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2027. A specific premiere date, timeslot and trailer have not yet been announced.
For the broader year-ahead line-up, read TV Central’s ABC 2027 Upfront coverage. ABC programmes are available through the public ABC iview service.