Netflix has revealed that it has commissioned Queenstown, a “bold, propulsive” drama series starring Rufus Sewell.
The eight-part series will be set in the titular South Island resort town in New Zealand – a luxury ski scene – and will mark Netflix‘s first drama series in the country.
Sewell, who’s known to audiences for playing Hal Wyler in political drama series The Diplomat, will lead the series alongside Frances O’Connor (Wednesday), Alycia Debnam-Carey (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) and Te Kohe Tuhaka (The Convert).
Details of their roles remain under wraps
The official synopsis for the series teases: “Beneath the glamour of Queenstown’s luxury ski scene, a privileged family and the people who work for them collide over power, loyalty and desire.”
Behind the camera, Jodi Matterson (Nine Perfect Strangers) and Libbie Doherty (Bluey) are producing, while Glendyn Ivin (Penguin Bloom) will executive produce and take the lead on directing. Roseanne Liang (Avatar – The Last Airbender) will also direct.
Matterson and Doherty said in a statement: “When creating The Silent Firework Group and Runaway Unicorn, our vision was to champion bold, distinctive storytelling, and Queenstown delivers on every front.”
They added: “In Chloe Stearns, we’ve found an extraordinary new voice, and we’re thrilled to have our partner, Glendyn Ivin, at the helm alongside an exceptional cast. We’re incredibly grateful to Amanda Duthie and the entire Netflix team for backing our vision to help bring what we believe will become audiences’ next obsession.”
Amanda Duthie, Netflix ANZ Content Director, added: “Queenstown draws an exceptional team of talent and creatives, surrounded by this breathtaking environment. Shooting our first locally-commissioned series here in New Zealand is a huge moment for us.”
Want to see this content?
This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose ‘Accept and continue’ to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.
She continued: “This is a bold, propulsive story of power, class and family set against the opulent world of a luxury ski town, and we can’t wait for our members to fall in love with this series the way we have.
“Along with a terrific screen sector, and with support from the New Zealand Film Commission and the Screen Production Rebate, we’re delighted that this production is creating opportunities for local crew, businesses and emerging talent while bringing this story to life.”
Read more:
- Anna Maxwell Martin shines in powerful Heartstopper Forever scene as she takes over Olivia Colman role
- John Hannah’s new crime show Benidorm Is Murder finally confirms start date
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
