Abacus Media Rights pre-sells "Scrublands" to Amc Networks’ Sundance Now

Abacus Media Rights has pre-sold Stan Original drama series "Scrublands," produced by Easy Tiger, to Sundance Now for the USA and English-speaking Canada. “We are delighted that Scrublands will be available to North American audiences through Sundance Now – a roller coaster of a drama based on Chris Hammer’s best-seller," Jonathan Ford, Managing Director at AMR said.  "The look and feel of the series, set in the uncompromising landscape of Australia, makes for an intense and mesmerising thriller which we know will captivate viewers.” 

"Scrublands" is directed by Greg McLean, written by Felicity Packard, Kelsey Munro and Jock Serong and produced by Easy Tiger’s Ian Collie and Rob Gibson along with David Redman and Felicity Packard. The executive producers for the series are Michael Healy and Andy Ryan from the Nine Network and Cailah Scobie and Amanda Duthie for Stan. Developed and produced with the support of VicScreen.  

The Stan and Nine Network co-commissioned drama is set in an isolated country town, where a charismatic and dedicated young priest Byron Swift (Jay Ryan) opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners. One year later investigative journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold) arrives in Riversend to write what should be a simple feature story on the anniversary of the tragedy. But when Martin’s instincts kick in and he digs beneath the surface, the previously accepted narrative begins to fall apart, and he finds himself in a life and death race to uncover the truth.  

Based on the award-winning, best-selling crime novel by Chris Hammer, "Scrublands," which recently completed principal photography in Victoria, stars award-winning actors Luke Arnold, Jay Ryan and Bella Heathcote.  The cast also includes Robert Taylor, Zane Ciarma, Adam Zwar, Victoria Thaine, Stacy Clausen, Genevieve Morris and newcomer Ella Ferris. “Scrublands exudes the perfect collection of intrigue, mystery and adventure, laced within a character-driven story, that Sundance Now’s astute audience appreciates and craves,"  Shannon Cooper, Vice President, Programming, Sundance Now said. "We’re excited to share the series with our North American viewers.”