The second season of SBS’ comedy series The Family Law has gone into production today.
The Family Law first hit screens in January this year to critical acclaim, securing an average national audience of 417,000 across the series, was the highest viewed program on SBS On Demand throughout its season, and attracted a huge 1.1 million views for its exclusive Facebook-first premiere.
Written and created by Benjamin Law, and based on his memoir of the same name, The Family Law is a coming-of-age story told through the eyes of teenager Benjamin, as he navigates growing up amidst the chaos of his hilarious, heart-warming and dysfunctional family.
ALSO: The Family Law author Benjamin Law talks about the transition of his book to television
The Family Law is developed and produced by Matchbox Pictures (The Slap, Nowhere Boys, Glitch) in association with Screen Queensland, Screen Australia and SBS.
Marshall Heald, SBS director of television and online content, said: “As well as being laugh-out-loud hilarious, season one of The Family Law was also poignant and heartfelt. On one level it appeared the story of a family who was different – an Asian-Australian family – but at its heart it’s a universal story of any normal Australian family grappling with the everyday challenges of life, love, friendships and teenage angst – universally relatable themes. I can’t wait to see what Benjamin Law and the talented team at Matchbox Pictures have in store for the Laws in season two.”
After the Law family’s summer to remember, a wiser, more-mature Benjamin now understands that sometimes, parents just work better apart. Simple, right? Yeah, no. In season two, Benjamin and the Laws are excited to explore fresh careers, fresh ambitions, even fresh romances. But as we all know, in the baking Queensland sun, nothing ever stays fresh for long.”
Benjamin Law
Benjamin Law, series creator, said: “One of the most satisfying things about season one of The Family Law was seeing how many audience members – Asian and non-Asian Australian alike – felt their own families were finally reflected back at them. We’re excited to be putting a 90% Asian-Australian cast on TV again, and picking right up from where we left the Laws. Once again, we’re looking forward to making people laugh as much as they cry from their hearts breaking – partly, because we’re mean, but ultimately because that’s what family’s about, really.”
Tony Ayres, executive producer, Matchbox Pictures, said: “Matchbox was thrilled to bring season one of this exuberant and heartfelt comedy to audiences both here and internationally. So we’re (more than) doubly thrilled to be back for season two, which will be funnier, ruder and even more poignant.”
Sally Caplan, head of production at Screen Australia, said: “Screen Australia is delighted to work with this team again on the second season of The Family Law. Season one was the perfect balance of laughs and heart. It really resonated with audiences and we hope that its popularity will encourage more diverse stories on our screens.”
The Family Law season two is executive produced by SBS’s Sue Masters, and for Matchbox Pictures, executive produced by Tony Ayres and Debbie Lee, produced by Julie Eckersley and Sophie Miller, and co-produced by Andy Walker. Introducing Ben Chessell (Offspring, Rush, Dance Academy) directing alongside Sophie Miller. Written by Benjamin Law, Kirsty Fisher and Lawrence Leung. Script producer Kirsty Fisher, series designer Jo Briscoe.
Filming will begin on The Family Law season two in Queensland later this year, and the series will air on SBS in 2017.