“Dear Sophie. My family will behave like vultures when they realize I’ve left my all to a relative stranger, but I need someone joyful in my house.”
The message to Teresa Palmer’s Sophie Honeywell in The Last Anniversary sets the scene for the trailer of the latest TV adaptation of a Liane Moriarty novel.
Palmer is starring in the dramedy, which is for Australian streamer Binge and also stars Miranda Richardson, Danielle Macdonald, Helen Thomas and Susan Prior among others. Nicole Kidman, Per Saari, and Bruna Papandrea reunited with Moriarty to make the series, which has been given a late March release date in Australia.
Based on the another novel from Moriarty — the author behind the Nine Perfect Strangers and Big Little Lies miniseries adaptations — the show is being billed as “a wickedly funny, heartfelt dramedy wrapped in a gripping mystery about family, motherhood and the women who define the generations that come after them.”
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The trailer follows city girl Sophie, who is unexpectedly left the home of her ex-boyfriend’s great-aunt Connie, who promises her the mysterious lands of Scribbly Gum Island could lead her to the man of her dreams.
Receiving an unwelcome reception on arrival, Sophie begins looking into the mysteries of the island. “Forty-year-old Nancy Drew right here,” says an accusatory Macdonald at a packed dinner table. “Thirty-nine,” replies Palmer. “And-a-half?” zings back Macdonald.
Samantha Strauss serves as head writer, with John Polson directing. Kidman and Per Saari‘s Blossom Films, Bruna Papandrea‘s Made Up Stories and Fifth Season, which has international sales rights, are co-producing. The New South Wales government is supporting through the Made in NSW Fund.
Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky are executive producing with Casey Haver co-executive producing for Made Up Stories. Saari and Kidman are executive producing for Blossom Films. Strauss, Polson and Moriarty are also EPs, as are Binge’s Alison Hurbert-Burns and Lana Greenhalgh. Sarah L. Walker serves as script producer.
The Last Anniversary is the first of Moriarty’s novels to be set in her home country, Australia, and was filmed Sydney and the Hawkesbury River, where the novel was set.
Foxtel Group-owned Binge is the commissioner, with the BBC taking UK rights and AMC bagging U.S. for its streamer, Sundance Now.
“The Last Anniversary reflects Foxtel Group’s commitment to supporting Australian storytelling. This wonderfully crafted series takes us to the water, to the bush and brings new corners of Australia to the screen. We’re looking forward to all our audiences escaping with us to Scribbly Gum Island and getting lost in the family mystery that ensues. We’re very thankful to the producers and talented cast and crew for their work and our partners at Screen NSW and Screen Australia for backing this special new series.”
Blossom Films and Made Up Stories added in a joint statement: “The Last Anniversary is a very special show to us – a beautifully Australian story about family wrapped up in a propulsive mystery. This is the next step in our partnership with Liane Moriarty and we’re so proud to bring the breathtaking Hawkesbury River to audiences, where Liane dreamt up this incredible story.
“We’re in awe of what our cast and crew have created, led by director John Polson, alongside writer Sam Strauss and stars Teresa Palmer, Miranda Richardson and Danielle Macdonald.”
In Australia, The Last Anniversary premieres Thursday 27 March on Binge.