RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under to come to Stan in late 2021
The local adaptation of RuPaul’s Drag Race is coming to Australia as a Stan Original Series.
The eight-part series goes into production this week in New Zealand featuring contestants from Australia and New Zealand. RuPaul, whom the franchise is named after, will host RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under and will be accompanied by the series’ long-serving judge Michelle Visage.
RuPaul’s Drag Race, a World of Wonder production launched in the US in 2009 and has since spawned international versions of the series in Canada, Holland, Thailand and the UK. Each series resides exclusively in Stan’s catalogue of content, and the streaming platform is currently releasing the new episodes of the 13th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the second season RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, on the same day they are broadcast in their respective countries.
Nick Forward, Stan chief content officer, said of the show: “You asked for it Australia, and now we’re bringing it to you – finally, our very own Aussie Drag Race, the new Stan Original Series RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under.
“The series is already a huge hit with our audience, so to now be working with RuPaul and the entire team at World of Wonder to create a local version is beyond a thrill. We can’t wait to reveal all the guest judges and see what our local queens bring to the global sensation that is RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
RuPaul added: “I cannot wait for everyone to see that Down Under queens have some of the biggest charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talents in the world. Thank you to Stan and TVNZ for providing a platform for these outrageous drag artists to share their heart, soul and humour.”
The local version of the reality competition will follow the popular format, with queens competing in fashion runways, mini and maxi challenges and the deciding lip synch battles.
The third judge that will join RuPaul and Visage on the panel is yet to be revealed, and the lineup of competing queens will be announced closer to the release date later this year.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under will be produced by World of Wonder, Warner Bros International Production New Zealand and TVNZ. RuPaul, Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey, Tom Campbell will serve as executive producers and Passion Distribution will distribute the series globally.
Nick Tanner, Passion Distribution director of sales and co productions, said: “We’re proud to bring the Drag Race phenomenon down under in an Antipodean showdown for Stan and TVNZ On Demand. I can’t wait to see the best queens from Australia and New Zealand bring it to RuPaul’s main stage. RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under will be a fantastic addition to the ever expanding ‘ru-niverse’.
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Fenton Bailey
Nick Forward
Nick Tanner
Randy Barbato
RuPaul
RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under
Stan
Stan Original Series
