Baz Luhrmann Expanding ‘Australia’ Into Six-Episode Director’s Cut ‘Faraway Downs’ Coming to Hulu
Did you enjoy Baz Luhrmann’s Australia? If so, you’re in for a real treat as a directors cut is coming in the form of a six episode series.
According to Variety, The 2008 epic, which was a box office dud, but later found a cult following, will be reimagined as a six-part limited series titled Faraway Downs. The series will be released exclusively as a Hulu Original in the U.S. and a Star Original on Disney+ and Star+ in international markets. The six-episode director’s cut is scheduled to debut this winter and will be comprised of footage that was captured for the film, while offering an expanded, serialized version of the story. Luhrmann and company are also promising a new ending and an updated soundtrack.
“I originally set out to take the notion of the sweeping ‘Gone With the Wind’ style epic and turn it on its head. A way of using romance and epic drama to shine a light on the roles of First Nations people and the painful scar in Australian history of the ‘Stolen Generations.’ While ‘Australia’ the film has its own life, there was another telling of this story. It’s one that includes alternative plot twists that an episodic format has allowed us to explore.”
Baz Luhrmann
Faraway Downs will be executive produced by Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Schuyler Weiss, and Catherine Knapman. 20th Television is the studio behind the feature.
Starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, Australia is a character story, set between 1939 and 1942 against a dramatised backdrop of events across northern Australia at the time, such as the bombing of Darwin during World War II.
What do you think?
It is nice to know your opinion. Leave a comment.