The idyllic Hawkesbury River region of Australia provides a deceptively tranquil backdrop for The Last Anniversary, a new drama premiering March 27th on Binge and Showcase. Based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, the series quickly dispels any notion of peaceful, riverside living, plunging viewers into the murky depths of a family riddled with secrets.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for producers Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, the forces behind Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. But The Last Anniversary marks a homecoming of sorts. It’s the first adaptation of a Moriarty novel to be both set and filmed in Australia.
The narrative centers around Scribbly Gum Island, a locale brimming with concealed truths. As the six-part series, directed by John Polson, progresses, we’re introduced to a family whose connections are far more tangled than they initially appear. It’s a story that explores motherhood, generational legacies, and the often-uncomfortable realities that bind families together. Foxtel Group’s Alison Hurbert-Burns stated that the show “takes us to the water, to the bush and brings new corners of Australia to the screen.”
Samantha Strauss, serving as head writer, skillfully adapts Moriarty’s work, crafting a narrative and a story line that blends dark humor with genuine emotion, all while maintaining the suspense of a compelling mystery. The series looks at the women who play a significant part in shaping their family’s.
The collaboration between Made Up Stories, Blossom Films, and Fifth Season has the backing of the NSW Government through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund, with Fifth Season overseeing worldwide distribution. Producers from both Blossom Films and Made up Stories were keen to celebrate the setting of the show, noting that they were incredibly “proud to bring the breathtaking Hawkesbury River to audiences“.
The cast features some well known stars, Teresa Palmer, Miranda Richardson, and Danielle Macdonald will all take leading roles in the show, supported by the likes of, Helen Thomson, Susan Prior, Claude Scott-Mitchell, Charlie Garber, Uli Latukefu and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor.
Weekly episodes will start airing from Thursday 27 March at 8.30pm.
