In what is being touted as the largest local screen production ever filmed in the Northern Territory, global streaming giant Netflix has pivoted Down Under to make the next dynasty drama.
While Paramount’s Yellowstone, starring embattled US actor Kevin Costner, follows the Dutton family, property developers and loyalties to the dynasty and the ranch, and Foxtel’s Succession follows the Roy family’s media empire and legacy, Desert King is in a league of its own.
This six-part “neo-western drama” will serve up rival cattle barons, desert gangsters, Indigenous elders and billionaire miners.
Described as an “ambitious project”, for the first time Netflix has started a series set in the Northern Territory, with South Australia locked in as the major studio hub for production.
“This is an ambitious Netflix series which could not have been made anywhere else but in the Territory,” says director of Screen Territory Jennie Hughes.
“It captures the vastness, beauty and scale of the Territory, which is going to give this project an unparalleled sense of authenticity, aesthetic and audience appeal.
“Desert King features all the ingredients to become a flagship Australian series,” she says.
Described as a “neo-western drama”, Desert King (at this stage its working title) has begun on the traditional land of the Larrakia people (Darwin, Northern Territory) and the Kaurna people (Adelaide, South Australia), and centres around the world’s largest cattle station, which is left without a clear successor.
What could go wrong?
Answer: Generational clashes within the fictitious Lawson family which threaten to tear the family apart.
“Sensing this once great dynasty is in decline, the outback’s most powerful factions – rival cattle barons, desert gangsters, Indigenous elders and billionaire miners – move in for the kill. Desert King is an explosive drama about power, family, land and legacy,” reads the official synopsis.
The challenges of filming in the outback are all surmountable. Photo: Netflix
Co-written and produced by Ben Davies, who brought us one of the country’s most successful TV exports in Bondi Rescue, he is already in the NT with production underway.
“We’re beyond excited to be heading into the remote outback to make this epic and distinctively Australian drama for audiences worldwide.
“It’s epic.
‘Life and livelihood’
“And we’re thrilled to have assembled an incredibly creative team, on- and off-screen, to do justice to the rarely-seen world, characters and stories of the Top End – a place where timeless meets modern, and where landscape is life and livelihood, but also mortal danger,” he says.
Davies is no stranger to the harsh environment either, making The First Inventors – hosted by Tiwi Islander actor Rob Collins for Ten and NITV – and Outback Ringer, which follows the highs and lows of four bull-catching teams in the remote Australian outback.
He told Screen NSW of the challenges of making that series: “The apt words to describe the challenges are ‘major’ and ‘sh-tloads’.
“It was the toughest show I’ve ever made.
“The people in Outback Ringer are great, and part of the reason they make such good TV is the remoteness of their world, but the sheer distances made for very difficult production,” he says.
Cattle musters on an outback cattle station are also a challenge to film. Photo: Netflix
Davies will also be an old-hand at problem-solving when things don’t go to plan.
He was asked whether he needed special film equipment to shoot in remote areas inaccessible by road for Outback Ringer.
“All crews carried major GoPro kits with mounts, including special CASA approved chopper mounts … the crews had serious 4WDs, with generators, fridges, sat phones, CB radios, camping equipment, and heaps of spare tyres.
“We got better at preserving the gear very quickly, thanks to the talent teaching us how important that is – since there’s no-one to fix your broken gear, except yourself.”
According to IMDb, there’s a few stunt co-ordinators and producers from the Mad Max: Fury Road blockbuster, including stuntman Lawrence Woodwood and stuntman in the camera and electrical department, Nathan Lawson (he also worked on Hacksaw Ridge, and Fast and Furious 9).
Hughes also reminds us of the challenges ahead: “This is the largest series ever to be filmed in the NT”.
Joint state and territory funding has contributed to bringing this series to life. Photo: Netflix
While Netflix isn’t giving any lead casting calls yet, and not much is known about the plotlines for the series, we do know who may be headlining.
According to IMDb, Sara Wiseman (Rake, Under the Vines) plays Sandra Kirby and Tuuli Narkle, who was nominated for an AACTA in 2022 for Mystery Road – she’s also starring in the current series of NCIS: Sydney – plays Keely Redford.
There’s also 10 First Nations bootcamp participants who’ll be on location to learn all about the industry to get them job-ready for trainee positions on film sets.
‘The ultimate tale of big land’
“Desert King is the ultimate tale of big land, big money and all the high-stakes drama that come with it,” says Netflix’s director of content for Australia and New Zealand, Que Minh Luu .
“We’re excited to be shooting our next premium Australian series in the Northern Territory for the first time, where this epic family drama is set, and at the world-class production facilities in South Australia.
Desert King will be released globally on Netflix and is part of Netflix’s growing local slate of Australian films, shows and documentaries including previously released Heartbreak High, Wellmania, True Spirit and Run Rabbit Run as well as upcoming releases and newly announced projects such as Boy Swallows Universe, Surviving Summer Season 2, Love is in the Air, ONEFOUR: Against All Odds.
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