WHAT‘S HAPPENING
News & Events
Star cast set for South Australia’s biggest ever TV production The Tourist
28 January 2021
South Australia’s screen production boom just keeps getting bigger, with Stan Original Series The Tourist set to start shooting in the state in early 2021 starring Jamie Dornan (A Private War, The Fall, Wild Mountain Thyme).
Stan, along with Bafta-nominated and Emmy and Golden Globe-winning production company Two Brothers Pictures (Baptiste, The Missing, Fleabag) headed up by acclaimed writers Harry and Jack Williams, today announced Dornan as the lead in the six-part thriller, which charts one man’s search for his identity. HBO Max has also been confirmed as the US partner, after the series was first announced by Stan and BBC ONE last year.
Joining Dornan in the star-studded cast are Danielle Macdonald (Stan Original Film I Am Woman, Unbelievable), Shalom Brune-Franklin (Line of Duty, Roadkill) and Hugo Weaving (The Lord of The Rings, Patrick Melrose).
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said the mystery-packed, international thriller is the biggest television production ever to be made in South Australia and will create over 120 jobs for local cast and crew, and inject millions into the economy.
“As the biggest television production ever to be made in this state The Tourist is a major coup for South Australia, creating over 120 jobs for local cast and crew, and injecting an estimated $12.1 million into our local economy,” Minister Pisoni said.
“The production will also create jobs and economic benefit outside the screen sector, engaging the services of around 75 businesses across regional South Australia in a broad range of sectors, including construction, transport, accommodation, hospitality and more.
“The series is also the first production to secure the Federal Government’s Location Incentive to locate to the state, further cementing South Australia’s international reputation as a world class filming and production destination.”
CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation, Kate Croser, said today’s casting announcement adds further excitement to what is already a highly anticipated series, which was secured for South Australia by local producer Lisa Scott of Highview Productions (Stan Original Film A Sunburnt Christmas, The Hunting).
“The Tourist is yet another feather in the cap of acclaimed South Australian producer Lisa Scott of Highview Productions, coming hot on the heels of the runaway success of the recent South Australian shot Stan Original Film A Sunburnt Christmas, which was produced by Every Cloud Productions in association with Highview,” Ms Croser said.
“We are thrilled Lisa has once again partnered with Stan, and the Emmy-award winning producers of Fleabag, to bring this major new series to South Australia, which is set to be a stellar showcase of South Australian talent and locations for audiences around the world.”
Jamie Dornan said: “The Tourist are some of the most exciting scripts I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to go to Australia with such a talented group of people.”
Nick Forward, Stan’s Chief Content Officer said: “Set in Australia’s iconic outback, The Tourist is an incredible cat and mouse story. We’re thrilled to have Jamie Dornan as the lead in this original series, along with a strong local cast including Danielle Macdonald, Shalom Brune-Franklin and Hugo Weaving. Working with world class partners like BBC One, HBO Max and Two Brothers Pictures, along with local partners South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) and Highview Productions, The Tourist is a remarkable original series – and our biggest one yet. We can’t wait to bring this thrilling six-part series to Stan.”
Lisa Scott, Producer, Highview Productions said: “Along with the team from Two Brothers, I am very excited to bring a series of this calibre and size to South Australia with the incredible support from the Federal and State Governments, and as the first project to utilise the Federal Location Incentive funding in this state. This will be my third collaboration with Stan and I commend Stan CEO Mike Sneesby for his continuing support of bold and exciting stories from Australia and around the globe.”
Harry and Jack Williams, Writers and Managing Directors of Two Brothers Pictures said: “We’re hugely excited about this show. It’s tonally breaking new ground for us, and having Jamie Dornan on board is the icing on the Australian cake. Thrilled to be working with Chris Sweeney again as well as the BBC, HBO Max and Stan.”
Danielle Macdonald said: “Helen is a fascinating and intriguing character, I fell in love with her on page one. I ended up reading all the episodes in one sitting because I couldn’t put them down! I’m so excited to get to be a part of this incredible project and I can’t wait to start filming alongside the amazing cast and production team.”
Shalom Brune-Franklin said: “This story is really unique and I’m excited to be a part of bringing it to life with this brilliant team. I’m looking forward to adding to the thrilling mystery of these scripts with the wonderfully intriguing character of Luci. It’s very exciting to be working on such a great project in Australia – it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Hugo Weaving said: “I’m very excited to be slipping into the skin of one of the fabulously idiosyncratic characters who people the desert landscape of The Tourist. The scripts are wonderful. Dark and shocking, surprising and hilarious and always very human. This is a tonally uniquely project and should be an unforgettable ride and shoot for us all.”
The Tourist – further information
Jamie Dornan (A Private War The Fall, Wild Mountain Thyme) stars as a British man who finds himself in the glowing red heart of the Australian outback, being pursued by a vast tank truck trying to drive him off the road. An epic cat and mouse chase unfolds and the man later wakes in hospital, hurt, but somehow alive. Except he has no idea who he is. With merciless figures from his past pursuing him, The Man’s search for answers propels him through the vast and unforgiving outback.
Danielle Macdonald (Stan Original Film I Am Woman, Unbelievable) will star as Helen Chambers, a fledgling Probationary Constable, and Shalom Brune-Franklin (Line of Duty, Roadkill) is set to play Luci, a waitress who’s swept into The Man’s journey for answers. Hugo Weaving (The Lord of The Rings, Patrick Melrose) plays Agent Lachlan Rogers, one of the most highly regarded detective inspectors in Australia, leading Major Crime for the state police.
Full of shocking, surprising, funny and brutal turns, The Tourist is set in a world populated by quirky, enigmatic characters and off-beat black comedy punctuates high-stakes action. At its heart however, is a story of self-discovery with a ticking timebomb underneath: as The Man starts to uncover the mystery of who he was, he’s also forced to ask who he is now – and fast. Will he unlock the secrets of his identify before those who are trying to kill him catch up with him?
Stan Original Series The Tourist is a Two Brothers Pictures (an All3Media company) production for the BBC, in association with Highview Productions, All3Media International, the South Australian Film Corporation, HBO Max, Stan and ZDF. The 6×60 drama has been written by Bafta®-nominated and Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning producers and screenwritersHarry and Jack Williams (Baptiste, The Missing, Lair), who alongside Christopher Aird (Baptiste, Liar, Clique) and Andrew Benson will serve as executive producers for Two Brothers Pictures and Tommy Bulfin (Normal People, Line of Duty, Peaky Blinders) for the BBC. Lisa Scott (Stan Original Film A Sunburnt Christmas, The Hunting) will produce and Chris Sweeney (Liar, Back to Life) will executive produce and direct. International sales will be handled by All3Media International.
Downloads
- Download the full media release (639kb PDF)