Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia”
The film is being reimagined as a series
Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in love in and around the outback.
©Disney
15 years after the film’s release, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman return in “Australia”. But not in a sequel, but as a series.
15 years ago, “Elvis” director Baz Luhrmann (61) brought his almost three-hour-long epic “Australia” to cinemas – with Hugh Jackman (55) and Nicole Kidman (56) in the leading roles. In just under a month, the 2008 strip will appear again in a new look. Streaming provider Disney+ will be showing “Australia – The Series” from November 26th and has this a first trailer has now been released.
Once again, the English noblewoman Sarah Ashley (Kidman) ends up in unruly Australia in 1939 to initially reluctantly take over her murdered husband’s cattle farm. With the help of the hunky Drover (Jackman), she even manages to do this. But then not only does a vengeful man begin to sabotage her and her venture – the Second World War also breaks out.
Mixed reviews after film release
Bryan Brown (76), Brandon Walters (27) and Marvel star Ben Mendelsohn (54) can be seen in other roles. The series will consist of six episodes and contain previously unseen scenes. The source material was also recut, probably to do justice to the series format.
At the time of its release, “Australia” received mixed and sometimes very negative reviews, which in turn angered Luhrmann. Most of these people, says the director, simply didn’t understand the film for what it is: “This is not just a romantic comedy for 40-year-old women or an action film for 17-year-old boys, and that is for some people not okay,” he said at the time the industry website “The Hollywood Reporter”.
After all: “Australia” received an Oscar nomination in 2009. However, the golden boy for “Best Costume Design” went to Saul Dibbs (55) film drama “The Duchess” with Keira Knightley (38) and Ralph Fiennes (60).