Red Arrow International and SundanceTV announced today their partnership on Cleverman, an epic genre drama featuring an ensemble cast led by Iain Glen, Frances O'Connor, Deborah Mailman, Hunter Page-Lochard, Rob Collins and Stef Dawson.
With production beginning in Sydney, Cleverman is set in the near future that sees a group of non-humans battling for survival in a world where humans feel increasingly inferior to them, and want to silence, exploit and kill them. Central to the drama is the story of two estranged indigenous brothers who are forced together to fight for their own survival. Otherworldly creatures also emerge into this fragile and dangerous place.
Cleverman is based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen. Michael Miller is script producer and writers are Michael Miller and Jon Bell. Producers are Rosemary Blight and Lauren Edwards for Goalpost Pictures, Ryan Griffen, and, for Pukeko Pictures, Angela Littlejohn, with executive producers Sally Riley, Kylie du Fresne, Ben Grant, Martin Baynton, Adam Fratto, Jan David Frouman and Amelie Kienlin.
Wayne Blair (The Sapphires, Septembers of Shiraz) is lead director, with Leah Purcell also directing.
Oscar-winning, world renowned Weta Workshop (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit), through their association with Pukeko Pictures, together with Jacob Nash are providing the creature design. Park Road Post Production is providing picture, visual effects and sound post production services.
"SundanceTV is becoming the U.S. home to some of the most intriguing and interesting television shows from around the world," said Joel Stillerman, President of Original Programming and Development for AMC and SundanceTV. "We're looking forward to having Cleverman join other acclaimed series that U.S. viewers can't find anywhere else. We were drawn to Cleverman's originality, character-driven storylines and thought-provoking nature - qualities central to many of SundanceTV's signature series."
Henrik Pabst, Managing Director, Red Arrow International, says: "This bold and ambitious project is both hugely original and very timely and relevant in its themes. SundanceTV is the perfect home for the show and we are delighted to be partnering with them to bring Cleverman to U.S. viewers."
