Wentworth season 8 also known as Wentworth: Redemption will premiere on Tuesday, July 28 at 8.30pm on Fox Showcase and on Foxtel Now.
The final 20 episodes of the acclaimed Australian drama will have the themes of Resurrection, Rehabilitation, Redemption.
The show will also be released Internationally on broadcasters including 5STAR (UK), TVNZ (New Zealand) and Stod 2 (Iceland) after the world premiere on Foxtel.
Foxtel executive director of Television Brian Walsh said: “Wentworth has been the shining star of Foxtel’s extensive slate of Australian dramas and we are very proud to call “action” on the new season. We are indebted to the remarkable creative talent involved and to showcase the outstanding line-up of actors who bring to life this compelling series.
“Since its debut in 2013 Wentworth has had a large and loyal worldwide following and continually attracts some of the country’s finest actors and production creatives, we are thrilled to welcome Kate, Jane and Zoe on board.”
Fremantle director of scripted and Wentworth executive producer Jo Porter said: “Some 12 months after we wrapped series 7 it was more than a little bit exciting to see the gates of Wentworth spring open and reveal not only our beloved cast but some new faces join our incredible ensemble of acting talent. We are all so proud of the calibre of actors this production has always been able to attract – and post the first read through it was clear Kate, Jane and Zoe are already comfortable in the skin of their new roles.
“Marcia Gardiner and her team of writers have shaped another exhilarating season and introduced some compelling characters that continue to draw on the legacy of Prisoner while shaping the women to reflect a contemporary Australia. Together with Pino Amenta, Marcia and our incredible writers directors, cast and crew we can’t wait to get started.”
Wentworth: Redemption Synopsis
Three months have passed since the siege at the end of Series 7, during which the management of Wentworth has come under intense scrutiny, this leads to the introduction of Ann Reynolds (Jane Hall), the prison’s new General Manager, to initiate tougher measures that instantly aggravate Governor Will Jackson (Robbie Magasiva). Vera (Kate Atkinson) juggles parenthood and her return to work in the new role as Industries Manager. Fatherhood has given Jake (Bernard Curry) a new lease on life and he’s desperate to prove himself capable to Vera.
The women have unanimously rallied around Allie (Kate Jenkinson), now the new top dog, with Boomer (Katrina Milosevic) and Ruby (Rarriwuy Hick) as her faithful lieutenants. However, the peace is tested with the arrival of notorious former inmate and top dog, Lou Kelly (Kate Box) and her partner Reb Keane (Zoe Terakes). Lou’s propensity for violence underpins a poignant love story: Reb was born in the wrong body and wants to transition to male, but it’s going to cost a lot of money. Lou and Reb set about running various money-making schemes and violent acts that bring them into immediate conflict with Allie, Boomer and Ruby.
Meanwhile Marie (Susie Porter) languishes in isolation after her failed escape plan lands her with a life sentence and little reason to live.
Outside of the prison walls, Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson (Pamela Rabe), assumes another identity while she considers her next step to take down those who left her to die at the nail-biting conclusion of season 5.
Ruby is keenly feeling the absence of Rita (Leah Purcell), who has been sent into Protective Custody after the siege.
The arrival of another high-profile prisoner – young British wikileaker and hacktivist Judy Bryant (Vivienne Awosoga), is embraced by inmates but puts her into immediate conflict with Ann’s hard-line agenda.
Wentworths Success
Since the show launched in 2013 it has received numerous awards and nominations locally and internationally, including both the Most Popular and Most Outstanding Drama at the TV Week Logie Awards in 2018 – the first time an Australian drama has taken out both accolades in the same year. In 2019, it claimed Most Outstanding Drama for the fourth time.
Wentworth has been distributed to 158 territories including US, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Finland, Israel and Macedonia and has seen adaptions produced in four countries.
Wentworth Season 8 Part B
Wentworth resumed production of season 8 part B in June and will air exclusively on Foxtel in 2021.
Jo Porter, Wentworth executive producer and director of scripted, Fremantle, said: “Together with the cast and crew we are all looking forward to resuming production this week on the final chapter of Wentworth. We have carefully adjusted our production processes to ensure the health and well-being of our team and at the same time ensured we are able to maintain the integrity of our storytelling.”
Production
Wentworth is a Fremantle production for Foxtel with Fremantle Director of Scripted, Jo Porter and Foxtel’s Senior Drama Consultant, Penny Win as executive producers. Pino Amenta is series producer for season eight. The directors are Kevin Carlin, Beck Cole, Fiona Banks, Corrie Chen, Roger Hodgman and Mat King. The writers are John Ridley, Kim Wilson, Pete McTighe, Max Conroy and Marcia Gardner, who is both script producer and writer. Season 8 is supported by funding from Film Victoria.
Cast
Main Cast
Leah Purcell plays Rita Connors
Pamela Rabe plays Joan Ferguson
Kate Atkinson plays Vera Bennett
Katrina Milosevic plays Sue ‘Boomer’ Jenkins
Robbie Magasiva plays Will Jackson
Kate Jenkinson plays Allie Novak
Bernard Curry plays Jake Stewart
Rarriwuy Hick plays Ruby Mitchell
Susie Porter plays Marie Winter
Kate Box plays Lou Kelly
Jane Hall plays Ann Reynolds
Reb Keane plays Zoe Terakes
Vivienne Awosoga plays Judy Bryant
Supporting Cast
Marta Dusseldorp plays Sheila Bausch
David de Lautour plays Dr Greg Miller
Jacquie Brennan plays Linda Miles
Louisa Mignone plays Zaina Saad