Baz Luhrmann‘s Faraway Downs is set to have its world premiere at the inaugural SXSW Sydney festival prior to its premiere on Hulu later this year.
Faraday Downs expands on Luhrmann’s 2008 Australia
The six-part series, which acts as an extension of his 2008 film Australia, will have its premiere at the final night of SXSW Sydney, on October 21, 2023. Luhrmann will be on hand for the event, and will help showcase the series prior to its arrival on Hulu on November 26, 2023.
Faraday Downs will expand on the 2008 film, using original footage, a new ending, and an updated soundtrack.
Luhrmann’s Australia starred Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Brown, Brandon Walters, and Ben Mendelsohn. The series follows English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman), who “travels halfway across the world to confront her wayward husband and sell an unusual asset: Faraway Downs, a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian outback. 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.”
“I was inspired to re-approach my film Australia to create Faraway Downs because of the way episodic storytelling has been reinvigorated by the streaming world,” said Baz Luhrmann. “With over 2 million feet of film from the original piece, my team and I were able to revisit anew the central themes of the work. I am honored to world premiere Faraway Downs in Australia, the place that has inspired me and my work my entire life, and with a partner like SXSW who deeply recognizes the intersection of film, television and music with storytelling.”
