AMC Studios, the in-house studio, production, and distribution operation of AMC Networks, has announced that it has greenlit the new fantasy series Firebite with See-Saw Films.
A co-production of AMC Studios and See-Saw Films, Firebite is a high-octane fantasy series that follows two Indigenous Australians, Tyson and Shanika, who are on a quest to battle the last colony of vampires in South Australia.
A remote mining town is a hive for the last vampire stronghold shipped from Britain to Australia in 1788 by the colonial superpower to eradicate the Indigenous populations. Sheltering from the sun in the underground mines and tunnels that surround the town until the present day, the colony’s numbers and hunger are growing. War is coming.
What hope can Tyson, a reckless man full of bravado, and Shanika, a 17-year-old orphan, possibly have to defeat these vicious, blood-thirsty parasites, when legions of warriors before them have failed?
Created, written, and to be directed by Australia’s most celebrated Indigenous auteur voice, Warwick Thornton (Samson and Delilah, Sweet Country, Mystery Road), together with Brendan Fletcher (Mad Bastards), Firebite will consist of eight, one-hour episodes and will be filmed this summer on the traditional Country of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people of the Western Desert and Kaurna People of the Adelaide Plains in and around Adelaide, the regional town of Coober Pedy and at the Adelaide Studios in South Australia.
Said Warwick Thornton and Brendan Fletcher:
“We are really proud of the worthy and important stories we’ve brought to the screen over the last twenty years. Now it’s time for some rock and roll.”
Commented Dan McDermott, President of Original Programming for AMC Networks and Co-Head of AMC Studios:
“This is an original and highly entertaining series we can’t wait to bring to AMC+, and one that expands our already fruitful creative partnership with See-Saw Films after very successful collaborations on the wildly original State of the Union and the rare gem that was Top of the Lake. We are excited to tell this story authentically, in Australia with Indigenous storytellers, cast and crew and on Indigenous lands.”
Added Rachel Gardner, See-Saw Films’ Head of Drama Australia and Executive Producer:
“It’s incredibly exciting to be bringing Warwick and Brendan’s unique vision to the screen with a high-octane explosive story that draws on the complex themes of colonisation and racial prejudice, driven by Indigenous storytellers.”
Paul Ranford (Stateless, True History of the Kelly Gang) will produce the series alongside Indigenous filmmaker Dena Curtis (Elements, Grace Beside Me), who is co-producing. The writing team includes Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road) and newcomers Devi Telfer and Josh Sambono.
The Executive Producers for See-Saw Films are Rachel Gardner, Emile Sherman, and Iain Canning, alongside Thornton and Fletcher. See-Saw’s Simon Gillis serves as Co-Executive Producer.
The deal was negotiated by Rebecca Hardman for See-Saw Films and Scott Stein for AMC. The series has received major funding from the South Australian Film Corporation, and the production is providing employment opportunities for First Nations practitioners.
Firebite is expected to appear on AMC+ later this year.
Stay tuned for updates.
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