ABC and Screen Australia are pleased to announce that filming is underway on one of Australia’s most popular dramas Total Control. Reprising their award-winning roles Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths are joined in the corridors of power by a stellar cast of Australian actors including Wayne Blair, who will also direct all six episodes.
Returning to Blackfella Films’ critically acclaimed series are Rob Collins, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Huw Higginson, Wes Patten, Lisa Flanagan and Harry Richardson. They will be joined this time by a remarkable line-up of Australian talent including comedian Steph Tisdell, who steps into her first dramatic role, Alex Dimitriades, Colin Friels, Harry Greenwood, Rob Carlton, Daniella Farinacci, Brenna Harding, Benedict Hardie, and Anita Hegh.
Deborah Mailman says “It’s a great feeling to be on set as the cameras roll on season two. We have a fabulous team of cast and crew, the scripts are fantastic, and I’m loving getting back into the skin of Senator Alex Irving as she continues her fight in the corridors of Parliament. I can’t wait for people to see the continuation of this story.”
The first season saw political newcomer Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman) engineer a remarkable coup against Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), the Prime Minister who appointed her to the Senate. Total Control’s success is now also set to expand to the US, with Disney’s ABC Studios recently announcing adaptation plans.
Rachel Griffiths says: “In the wake of the announcement of the American remake of Total Control and the first seasons’ huge success, I couldn’t be more excited to start filming our second season. I have no doubt that it will be as startlingly relevant and deeply emotional as our first, and that fans will be riveted as they follow Deb Mailman’s epic journey through the rapids of power.”
Season two sees Alex running as an Independent. She’ll be ready for the inevitable dirty campaign tactics and to compete against the well-financed machinery of the major parties. Making her job harder, she’ll be confronted by vile online trolls, threats against her family and political opponents riled by the audacity of a Black woman standing up for the voiceless. Can Alex survive a system determined to shake everything she values?
The series is written by a team of writers including Stuart Page, Larissa Behrendt, Angela Betzien, Pip Karmel and Nakkiah Lui.
Filming in Sydney, Canberra – including at Parliament House – and Broken Hill, the new season will premiere on the ABC later this year.