Described as a road trip with a mystery twist, Darby and Joan has been commissioned by Acorn TV. The series will star Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi and will film in various locations throughout rural and regional Queensland.
The series is supported by the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Screen Finance fund.
Produced by Australian production company CJZ, Darby and Joan will premiere on Acorn TV in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Australia, Spain, Portugal, among others in 2022.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this week the production will commence this month.
“Darby and Joan will inject an estimated $6.6 million into the local economy and generate approximately 95 jobs for Queenslanders,” the Premier said.
Screen Queensland chief creative officer Jo Dillon said that Screen Queensland promotes the state as an ideal location for homegrown and international screen stories.
“For decades young and older travellers alike have been heeding the call of Australia as a place of discovery, renewal and freedom, and who better to star in this series as Darby than Bryan Brown, an Australian icon, alongside the talented Greta Scacchi playing English widow Joan.”
Matt Campbell, CEO of CJZ, said Queensland is the ultimate setting for this non-stop road adventure with a difference.
“We wanted scope, scale and variety, to capture a sense of awe and the stark beauty that comes from huge skies, vast horizons and roads less travelled; Queensland has all of this and more,” Campbell said.
“We can’t wait to start filming next month and thank the Queensland Government and Screen Queensland for supporting this project.”\
Co-star Bryan Brown added, “Looking forward to working with Greta Scacchi on Darby and Joan. Terrific story and we get to show off beautiful Queensland. Fun all round.”
Darby and Joan will be executive produced by Claire Tonkin (My Life is Murder), David Hannam (Secret Bridesmaid’s Business), Matt Campbell, Bea Tammer and Catherine Mackin, with series producer Pino Amenta (Five Bedrooms, Wentworth). Created by Glenys Rowe and Phillip Gwynne, the series’ writers include David Hannam, Beck Cole, Andrew Anastasios, Giula Sandler, Ainslie Clouston, Adam Zwar and Paul Bennett. Set-up director is David Caesar (Dirty Deeds).
Darby and Joan has also received production investment from Screen Australia.