Stan has unveiled the first-look teaser and images of the upcoming second season of the award-winning Stan Original Series Bloom.
The announcement follows Stan’s summer launch of Australia’s biggest ever line-up of originals; including season two of The Other Guy, The Commons, The Gloaming and True History of the Kelly Gang – plus recent announcements, including The Tourist, a co-production between Stan and BBC One.
Stan parent Nine Entertainment this week revealed Stan paying subscribers had surged close to 1.8m with a forecast there could be 2m by the end of the year.
The six-part Stan original series welcomes back its stars from the first season, including two-time Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver, multi award-winning Bryan Brown and international star Phoebe Tonkin.
Joining the cast for season two is a mix of rising stars and Australian screen legends including Jacqueline McKenzie (Stan Original Series Romper Stomper), Gary Sweet (House Husbands), Bella Heathcote (Strange Angel), Toby Schmitz (Black Sails), Jackson Heywood (Home and Away) and Ed Oxenbould (Puberty Blues) – plus series one favourites Genevieve Morris (Stan Original Series No Activity), John Stanton (The Doctor Blake Mysteries) and Anne Charleston (Neighbours).
In the first season of Bloom, the residents of a small, country town, Mullan, were left reeling after an inexplicable “fountain of youth” appeared in the wake of a devastating flood. A mysterious plant with luminous berries offered a second chance to return to your prime, which proved miraculous for some, while others were corrupted and fought to possess it.
In season two, time has passed, and news of the miracle has spread, but this time around the plant itself has transformed and the experience and its side effects are far more severe. With the town’s secret having leaked, Anne Carter (Jacqueline McKenzie) – the former CEO of a biotech company – arrives in Mullan with her young daughter and her friend’s teenage son, Luke (Ed Oxenbould), for a tree-change. But it’s only her cover story. John Melvin (Toby Schmitz), the troubled new priest is trying hard to rally faith and is desperate for a miracle from God. While beloved former actress, Gwen Reed (Jacki Weaver/Phoebe Tonkin), has cheated death once again, but at what cost? As news of a “second generation” plant emerges, a battle between nature, science and faith erupts.
The first-look teaser reveals the return of Gwendolyn Reed, and also features the ARIA award-winning artist Tones & I with her cover of the hit Forever Young.
Stan Original Series Bloom was created by Glen Dolman and produced by Sue Seeary.
Bloom is produced by Sony Pictures Television’s production company Playmaker for Stan. Major production investment from Stan in association with Screen Australia. Financed with support from Film Victoria.