Mystery Road: Origin showcasing Pemberton’s beautiful forests – Season two of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning ABC series Mystery Road: Origin will premiere on 21 September, delving into the early years of Detective Jay Swan.
The six-part drama produced by Bunya Productions, is a prequel to the Mystery Road crime drama series, and the fourth instalment to be filmed in Western Australia, following seasons in Kununurra/Wyndham, Broome and Kalgoorlie/Coolgardie.
The series is produced by Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey, with major production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund.
Written by an entirely First Nations writing team, Mystery Road: Origin season two is directed by Western Australian director Jub Clerc (Sweet As, Total Control S3) and Wayne Blair (Mystery Road Series S2, Total Control).
The production also showcases an incredible cohort of Western Australian crew and creatives.
Three Western Australian actors have reprised their lead roles – AACTA Award-winning Lead Actor and proud Nyikina man Mark Coles Smith (We Bury The Dead, Beasts of War) as Young Jay, AACTA Award-winning Lead Actress Tuuli Narkle (NCIS S1 & S2, Territory) as Young Mary and Clarence Ryan (Territory, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) as Sputty.
Detective Jay Swan, played by AACTA Award-winning Lead Actor and proud Nyikina man Mark Coles Smith (We Bury The Dead, Beasts of War) and his partner Mary, played by AACTA Award-winning Lead Actress Tuuli Narkle (NCIS S1 & S2, Territory) attempt to forge a new life together on her mother’s Country in the fading timber town of Loch Iris.
But it doesn’t take long for the majesty of the tall trees in the brooding surrounding forests and the deep lake on the edge of town to take on gothic dimensions. As Jay begins to investigate an unfolding case, Loch Iris closes rank around him.
The more he pieces together the crime, the more he realises the entire town has been hiding a shadowy past.
It’s a past that is still rippling through to the present and with it, a secret that threatens to tear Jay and Mary apart.
Coles Smith and Narkle are joined by an impressive ensemble cast including Robyn Malcolm (After The Party, The Survivors), Clarence Ryan (Territory, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Geoff Morrell (Lord Of The Rings: Rings of Power, Ice Road 2: The Road To The Sky), Nicholas Bell (Elvis, Bay of Fires), Luke Carroll (Scrublands S2, The Artful Dodger), Helen Morse (The Eye Of The Storm, The Doctor Blake Mysteries), Aswan Reid (The New Boy, Beasts of War), Steve Le Marquand (Population 11, Christmess), Pippa Grandison (Population 11, After the Verdict), Rarriwuy Hick (Wentworth, True Colours), Shantae Barnes-Cowan (Sweet As, Firebite), Tammy Lee Rock (The Sapphires, Boxing Day), Marley Sharp (The Circuit, Redfern Now), Alex Malone (The Royal Hotel, Colin From Accounts), Greg Tait (Firebite, Mad Bastards) and introducing Eloise Hart.
Filmed in Pemberton last year, the production returned an estimated $7.3 million to the Western Australian economy, including $5 million into the regions.
Director Jub Clerc said:
“For me it is a full circle moment after being a director’s attachment on the first series. I feel extremely honoured that my friends at Bunya trusted me to help tell this important story, as we bring Jay Swan out of the unforgiving desert and into the brooding forest, in a new and exhilarating chapter of the Mystery Road journey.”
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall said:
“Mystery Road is one of the ABC’s most successful and anticipated series, and has catapulted iconic Western Australia towns into the spotlight with productions in the Goldfields, Kimberley and now amidst the towering forests of Pemberton. We look forward to seeing the latest instalment on screens in September.”
Mystery Road: Origin season two will premiere on Sunday, 21 September at 8.15pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.
Production credit:
Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Mystery Road: Origin is produced by Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey of Bunya Productions with major production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund.
Financed in association with Screen NSW, with All3Media International handling international sales. Written by Steven McGregor, Jada Alberts, Erica Glynn, Samuel Paynter and Gary Hamaguchi. Script Producer Deb Cox. Directed by Wayne Blair and Jub Clerc. ABC Executive Producers Rachel Okine and Brett Sleigh.
Media Release – Screenwest
Link to Screenwest HERE
TV Central Screen Australia content HERE
Mystery Road: Origin showcasing Pemberton’s beautiful forests
