Feral cast: Michelle Dockery and Jessica Gunning lead Netflix drama filming in Queensland – Netflix has greenlit Feral, a new seven-episode drama series based on Shirley Conran’s best-selling novel Savages. Filming is underway across the Gold Coast, the Hinterland and the Whitsunday Islands.
The series is directed by the Gold Coast’s Emma Freeman (Dustfall, Two Years Later, Clickbait). It stars Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer), Genevieve O’Reilly and Philippa Northeast.
For Australian viewers, the casting reunites O’Reilly and Northeast after Netflix’s My Brilliant Career. TV Central reported that the Australian series debuted at number four globally on Netflix in August. Feral is also the latest Netflix production to film in Queensland.
Feral cast and characters
Netflix announced the lead cast in alphabetical order by surname:
- Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey, Godless) will play Julia
- Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer) will play Annie
- Genevieve O’Reilly (Andor, My Brilliant Career) will play Silvana
- Philippa Northeast (My Brilliant Career, Territory) will play Suzy
In addition, Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed) will play Elena.
What is Feral about?
Feral is a thrilling, darkly funny story of adventure and survival, based on Conran’s best-selling 1980s novel. Four very different women accompany their mining executive husbands on a corporate holiday to a beautiful but lethal tropical island.
When the men’s shady deals land them all in danger, the women must learn to survive the jungle, and each other. Can they put aside their differences, self-doubts and vanities to stay alive?
The production will use the rainforest of the Gold Coast and the islands of the Whitsundays to depict the story.
What the creative team says
Jude Mack, writer and executive producer, said:
Feral is a wild, messy journey of self-discovery and it’s a complete dream to be carrying Shirley Conran’s torch alongside Hera and Netflix. I can’t wait for people to meet these funny, brutal, bold women. I’m obsessed with them and hope audiences will be too.
Jude Mack, Writer and Executive Producer
Liza Marshall, founder of Hera Pictures and executive producer, said:
We’re delighted to be working with the incredibly talented Jude Mack to bring Shirley Conran’s best-selling novel to the screen. The extraordinary female characters at the heart of the show will be pushed to extremes, behave deliciously badly and have a whole lot of fun along the way. Emma Freeman is the perfect director to take us on the ride, and Netflix have wholeheartedly embraced the scale and ambition of the show.
Liza Marshall, Founder of Hera Pictures and Executive Producer
A $38.5 million boost for Queensland
Queensland’s Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek, said Feral will benefit from the state’s renowned crew base and versatile natural environments. The series comes from Hera Pictures, in association with Warner Bros. International Television Production.
The Crisafulli Government is proud to support Feral through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy—a production which will contribute an estimated $38.5 million to the local economy while employing more than 250 cast and crew.
Feral will also hire numerous local small businesses in South East Queensland and North Queensland to deliver this latest jungle adventure for a global audience, as well as providing training opportunities through Screen Queensland’s Attachment program.
John-Paul Langbroek, Queensland Minister for the Arts
Feral is supported by the Australian Government through the Location Offset and the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy. It is also supported by the Gold Coast Film Commission and Invest Gold Coast’s Screen Attraction Program.
Feral production credits
- Writer: Jude Mack
- Director: Emma Freeman
- Executive producers: Liza Marshall and Bria Thomas for Hera Pictures, Jude Mack, Emma Freeman, Hamish Lewis and David Belshaw for Warner Bros. International Television Production
- Series producer: Laurie Borg
- Production company: Hera Pictures, in association with Warner Bros. International Television Production
- Episodes: 7 x 60 minutes
Netflix has not yet announced a release date for Feral.
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