Netflix commissions first Australian original series Tidelands
After years of questions about whether Netflix would fund Australian original content, the American entertainment company has commissioned its first local original series, Tidelands.
The supernatural crime drama, which will commence production in Queensland next year, will debut exclusively on Netflix globally.
Tidelands is the story of a former criminal who returns home to a small fishing village and finds the body of a fisherman washed ashore.
After finding the body, the lead character tries to uncover the town’s secrets and its strange inhabitants known as ‘Tidelanders’.
The series will be produced for Netflix by Brisbane’s Hoodlum Entertainment, led by executive producers Tracey Robertson, Nathan Mayfield and Leigh McGrath, who also produced Australian series Secrets & Lies and its US version.
Tidelands will have ten episodes with each running for 50 minutes. They will be written by creator of Secrets & Lies, Stephen Irwin.
Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series at Netflix, said he was proud of the first Australian Netflix original series.
“We can’t wait to bring the mystery of Tidelands to our members around the world,” said Barmack.
Tracey Robertson, co-creator and co-executive producer, added: “We are excited to be partnering with Netflix on Tidelands – this story is one that has been itching to be told and we are thrilled to be making it on our home soil in Australia with fantastic creatives and highly skilled crews.”
Tidelands is the latest Netflix investments in Australian content with Glitch, Beat Bugs, Bottersnikes & Gumbles, Kazoops, Mako Mermaids: An H20 Adventure, White Rabbit Project and Legend of Monkey, already in market.
Netflix also commissions Australian-grown content including Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and The Code for distribution.
How can a fictional story be one that is “itching to be told”?
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