Homebodies on SBS new original drama – What if the one thing standing between you and your future was the ghost of who you used to be?
Premiering Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand, Homebodies is a bold, surprising and heartfelt Australian family drama that explores the courage it takes to accept the ghosts of our past.
Fresh from its selection for this year’s prestigious Series Mania, the series stars Claudia Karvan (Bump, Puberty Blues, Love My Way), Luke Wiltshire (Boyish and With Love, Lottie) and Jazi Hall (Playing Gracie Darling), and follows Darcy (Wiltshire), a trans man who reluctantly returns to his regional hometown to care for his estranged mother Nora (Karvan). But home isn’t as he left it. Nora has been living with a secret housemate: Dee (Hall), the teenage ghost of Darcy’s pre-transition self.
As old wounds resurface, Darcy must confront the parts of himself he tried to leave behind or risk losing himself entirely.
Luke Wiltshire brings warmth and vulnerability to the role of Darcy, following award-winning performances in Boyish and With Love, Lottie as he confronts Dee, his teenage self, played with delightful mischief by Jazi Hall. Claudia Karvan, one of Australia’s most respected screen actors plays Nora, a single mother navigating love, grief and the courage to grow. The cast also features Roxie Mohebbi (Critical Incident, Run, He Had it Coming) who plays George, his charming childhood crush with a few surprises of her own.
Set in the fictional town of Torwoo and filmed in Oberon and Portland in regional New South Wales, Homebodies blends humour, heart, and a playful ghost story to explore identity, family and the messy work of reconciliation. At its core is a deeply human story about a mother and son learning how to see each other again.
Launching ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility on Tuesday 31 March, Homebodies will have its world premiere in France next month after being selected for this year’s Series Mania.
The series is a commission from the acclaimed Digital Originals initiative with Screen Australia and NITV, aimed at developing exciting and innovative short-form drama projects to premiere on SBS platforms. The initiative is designed to support screen creatives currently under-represented in the sector, including people who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, First Nations Australians, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTIQ+ and those who are in regional and remote areas.
Created by AP Pobjoy, Homebodies is written by Pobjoy and Charlotte Mars and directed by Harry Lloyd (set-up director) alongside Pobjoy. The series is produced by Cyna Strachan at Mad Ones Films, whose credits include Jimpa, Latecomers and the upcoming feature directorial debut from Tilda Cobham-Hervey, It’s All Going Very Well….Executive producers are Liam Heyen, who also produced Sophie Hyde’s feature Jimpa, currently in cinemas, Kirsty Fisher (Laid), and Deanne Weir of WeirAnderson Films, which has upcoming features Boss Cat and Sweet Milk Lake.
Cyna Strachan, Producer, said
“Homebodies is a series that makes space for who we were, who we are – and the messy, loving journey in-between. It sees the best in complicated people who are driven by love and longing for connection. Queer and trans stories continue to be incredibly important to us at Mad Ones, and representation is especially important in the current climate. We are thrilled to bring this offering to SBS audiences – and hope it makes audiences laugh loudly, shed a tear or two, and find kindness towards their younger selves.”
Creator and writer, AP Pobjoy said,
“We are thrilled to bring Homebodies to SBS audiences – a personal story about identity, family and coming home. We’ve been so lucky to work with a fantastic cast, including Claudia Karvan, Luke Wiltshire and Jazi Hall, who have brought extraordinary depth and authenticity to these roles, grounding the supernatural in something deeply human.”
Nakul Legha, Head of SBS Scripted, said
“Homebodies is a joyous and deeply moving piece of Australian storytelling. It embodies our ambition at SBS Scripted to tell daring, emotionally truthful stories that reflect contemporary Australia. We’re so proud of the team and the many ways this series will resonate with all the Darcys, Dees and Noras out there. At a time when simply being yourself feels fraught, this series is vital and courageous. It’s a testament to the impact of the Digital Originals initiative with Screen Australia in bringing bold new Australian voices to the screen.”
Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content Louise Gough said,
“Set in rural Australia, Homebodies is grounded in the universally relatable truism – that our journey towards healing begins with reconciling with our past. Homebodies embodies the heart of the Digital Originals initiative and what is possible when under-represented voices are supported and amplified. From a creative team led by AP Pobjoy, this story is equal parts eerie, funny and sincerely heartfelt, and is destined to connect with audiences at home and across the world.”
Homebodies is a Mad Ones Films production for the SBS. Principal production funding from Screen Australia, in association with SBS. Financed with support from Screen NSW and WeirAnderson Films. Local distribution by SBS.
Homebodies will be open captioned and subtitled on SBS On Demand in five different languages including: Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese and Korean.
Homebodies will premiere on Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand
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Homebodies on SBS new original drama
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