The blockbuster epic features two massive stars.
The first trailer has hit the web for Faraway Downs, a new TV series made up of footage shot for the 2008 blockbuster movie Australia starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.
Co-written and directed by Baz Luhrmann (Elvis, Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet), the original film is set between 1939 and 1942 in northern Australia and depicts several historical events, including the bombing of the city of Darwin during World War II.
Released 15 years ago into cinemas, the epic adventure drama received mixed reviews – 55% on Rotten Tomatoes – and was not a hit at the box office – only grossing around $210 million on a $130 million budget.
Generally, films must gross over double the cost of their productions to be considered profitable.
However, the movie will be getting a second chance at a success as Luhrmann has recut the epic into a six-part TV show, adding the new title of Faraway Downs, a new hour of footage and a new ending.
The plot synopsis for Faraway Downs reads:
“The story centres on an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) who travels halfway across the world to confront her wayward husband and sell an unusual asset: a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian Outback called ‘Faraway Downs’. Following the death of her husband, a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown), plots to take her land and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to protect her ranch.
“The sweeping adventure romance is explored through the eyes of young Nullah (Brandon Walters), a bi-racial Indigenous Australian child caught up in the government’s draconian racial policy now referred to as the ‘Stolen Generations’. Together the trio experiences four life-altering years, a love affair between Lady Ashley and the Drover, and the unavoidable impact of World War II on Northern Australia.”
Faraway Downs will premiere on Disney+ in Ireland and the UK on 26 November. You can watch its trailer right here:
Faraway Downs trailer
For more of this week’s big trailers in the world of film and TV, scroll below.
American Fiction
Starting off with movies, this already acclaimed satirical comedy stars Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) as a frustrated author who writes a parody book, only for it to be mistaken and taken seriously as an autobiographical work.
American Fiction is set to be released in Ireland on 9 January 2024.
Anyone But You
In this rom-com, two people who hate each other (Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney) must pretend to be a couple while attending a destination wedding in Australia.
Anyone But You will be out in Irish cinemas on 26 December.
The Boys in the Boat
George Clooney directs this biographical sports drama about the University of Washington’s rowing team who represented the US in the Men’s eight at the 1936 Summer Olympic games in Berlin.
The Boys in the Boat will paddle into Irish cinemas on 12 January 2024.
Eileen
Based on the acclaimed 2015 novel of the same name, this psychological thriller follows a woman (Thomasin McKenzie) working in a US prison in the ’60s whose friendship with a new co-worker (Anne Hathaway) takes a sinister turn.
Eileen will land in Irish cinemas on 1 December.
Ferrari
Michael Mann (Heat, Miami Vice) directs this sports biopic about Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver), the Italian motor racing driver and founder of the luxury sports car manufacturer.
The movie will be released in Irish cinemas on 26 December, before arriving on Sky Cinema in 2024.
Napoleon
Joaquin Phoenix stars as the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in this historical epic from director Ridley Scott (Gladiator) which will be out in Irish cinemas on 22 November.
Poor Things
Reteaming her with Yorgos Lanthimos, the director of The Favourite, Emma Stone leads the cast of this surrealist sci-fi rom-com as Bella, a woman brought back to life by a scientist (Willem Dafoe).
Co-starring Mark Ruffalo as a man Bella runs off with, Poor Things will be released in theatres on 12 January 2024.
Saltburn
Barry Keoghan plays a young Oxford University student in the mid-2000s who becomes infatuated with his aristocratic schoolmate (Jacob Elordi) and the latter’s wealthy but eccentric family in this psychological thriller out in cinemas on 17 November.
Sly
The documentary film about Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone comes to Netflix on 3 November.
The Zone of Interest
This Cannes Film Festival prize winner centres around an Auschwitz commandant (Christian Friedel) and his wife (Sandra Hüller) as they strive to build a dream life next to the infamous concentration camp.
Directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Under the Skin), The Zone of Interest does not have an Irish release date yet but will be out in the US on 15 December.
The Santa Clauses Season 2
Moving onto TV, Tim Allen returns as Santa Claus in the second season of the Christmas comedy series which is out on 8 November on Disney+.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Last but not least, this anime adaptation of the popular Scott Pilgrim graphic novels arrives on Netflix on 17 November and features the cast of the beloved 2010 live action movie.
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