Foxtel has revealed a content slate led by locally-commissioned productions and domestic and international sport at its 2024 Upfront.
A feature film commissioned by the Foxtel Group for Binge headlined the entertainment announcements, with How to Make Gravy, an adaptation of Paul Kelly’s Australian song, now in production on the Gold Coast.
Stars in the film include Daniel Henshall, Hugo Weaving and French actress Agathe Rouselle alongside Brenton Thwaites, Damon Herriman and Kate Mulvany.
It will also feature cameo performances from Australian musicians Adam Briggs and Dallas Woods.
How to Make Gravy was adapted for the screen by musician Meg Washington and Nick Waterman, who will also direct. Academy Award-nominated producer, Schuyler Weiss will produce alongside Washington, Waterman and Hamish Lewis.
Also confirmed was The Last Anniversary, an adaptation of the novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty, produced by Made Up Stories and Blossom Films and directed by John Polson, with production to begin this year.
The premiere date of December 6 was announced for new original series, Strife, from Made Up Stories, and starring Australian icon Asher Keddie with all eight-episodes dropping at once.
Inspired by Mia Freedman’s memoir, Work, Strife, Balance, Strife is set in the world of publishing during the emerging digital age.
“The Foxtel Group has a long history of bringing critically-acclaimed Australian stories to the screen and we remain a committed champion for local, ground-breaking stories and voices in all genres," says Amanda Laing, chief content and commercial officer at Foxtel Group and MD at Binge.
"Many of these stories have been watched by millions globally, having been sold and screened in a number of international markets following their premiere on Binge and Foxtel.
“We continue to be the partner of choice for the world’s biggest studios and content producers, providing an unmatched content slate from the largest and most diverse pipeline of partners globally.
“This ensures that our Binge and Foxtel customers will continue to have access to the very best TV shows and movies from Australia and around the world, catering for every taste and every viewer.”
Programs slated to launch in the coming year include:
- High Country, an eight-part thriller starring Leah Purcell, Aaron Pedersen, Sara Wiseman and Ian McElhinney. It tells the story of detective Andrea (Andie) Whitford (Purcell) who is transferred to the Victorian High Country, where she navigates a mystery of five people missing in the wilderness.
- The Twelve, the second season starring Sam Neill who reprises his role as Brett Colby, SC, alongside Frances O’Connor as Meredith Nelson-Moore, SC.
- Production of Season 2 of comedy series Colin From Accounts, created and written by and starring Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall starts in Sydney.
- Mix Tape, a four-part event miniseries adapted from the novel by Jane Sanderson. This is Binge’s first international co-production.
- A new docu-soap reality original series, Billion Dollar Playground, looks into the world of wealthy guests who pay a premium for high-end vacation homes.
International entertainment includes:
- The next instalment of True Detective: Night Country, starring Academy Award winner Jodie Foster premiering January 15.
- Bookie, from creator Chuck Lorre and starring Charlie Sheen. The dark comedy follows veteran Los Angeles bookie as the potential legalisation of sports gambling in California threatens to upend his business.
- The Sympathiser, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name.
- The Regime, starring Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet, which tells the story of one year within the walls of the palace of a modern European regime as it begins to unravel.
- Ted based on the live-action/CGI box office hit and sequel from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.
- Vigil, the second series starring Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie in a new investigation as they enter the world of drone warfare to catch a killer.
More titles will be available on Foxtel and Binge, including: Apples Never Fall, based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, and starring Sam Neill and Annette Bening; Feud Capote VS The Swans, starring Naomi Watts, Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald and produced by Ryan Murphy and Belgravia: The Next Chapter, taking place 24 years from the series Belgravia.
Lifestyle
A slate of LifeStyle Original programming was also announced with Selling Houses Australia returning for season 16 with hosts Andrew Winter, Wendy Moore and Dennis Scott.
Gogglebox Australia along with another special edition of Celebrity Gogglebox Australia will air in 2024.
Foxtel Group paid tribute to the late Cal Wilson for her extensive contribution to the comedy and entertainment industry and her celebrated career.
She will be seen in her final role as host of Great Australian Bakeoff in 2024, which was filmed earlier this year alongside judges Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese and fellow host Natalie Tran.
Sport
A sizeable summer of cricket has been scheduled for 2024, including every Australian men’s and women’s home international, every match of the BBL and WBBL, plus major domestic and international matches live and ad break free during play on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
As a key broadcast partner of ESPN in Australia, Kayo Sports and Foxtel will broadcast all NBL and select WNBL games, plus select NBA games, across the summer. Sports viewers can watch NFL’s showpiece events live.
March will also see the return of winter codes with every game of every round of the AFL and NRL to be broadcast LIVE and ad break free during play.
In 2024, the NRL will kick off in a significant way with the opening round being staged in Las Vegas. Fox League will be the only source to watch both games including the season opener between the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs, Live. Fox League will be on ground with Matty Johns and NRL 360 live from Las Vegas to broadcast the build up.
Sports viewers will also be able to watch every match of the Super Netball Season along with Australian International Tests and the Quad Series. This will be in addition to Supercars, MotoGP and Formula 1 events along with Main Event Boxing and UFC, Golf, AFLW, NRLW, NFL and surfing.
“Foxtel Group is the home of sport in Australia. We have long-term rights to the local and international sports Aussies love," says Rebecca McCloy, executive director - commercial sport.
"In the last 12 months we signed 175 contracts with 120 sports bodies and federations.
“We’ve locked down deals for AFL and Cricket until 2031. And importantly, we have the biggest offering. Every minute of every AFL game throughout the season plus the finals up to the Grand Final, plus the most extensive cricket offering available to our more than three million sports subscribers.
“Add to those new deals with ESPN, Matchroom, and a 5-year contract with UFC, which has the youngest fan base of any professional sport in the world, and our offering is unmatched.”
From 2025, the new AFL rights will come into effect. As well as all AFL and AFLW home and away games and finals (excluding the AFL Grand Final) available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports live and ad break free during play, the Foxtel Group will introduce an exclusive Super Saturday of games across the first eight rounds of the season.
For the first time Fox Sports’ commentary and production will be available on all AFL games including alternate commentary feeds and expanded digital highlights.
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