Hanging Rock’s most famous story will be re-told on the small screen in May.
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Foxtel’s new six-part drama series Picnic at Hanging Rock was launched at a special event in Macedon on Wedensday.
Shot on location at Hanging Rock as well as other sites in Victoria, the series will also feature on Amazon Prime in the US and the BBC in Britain as well as being screened in France and New Zealand.
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Picnic at Hanging Rock has been re-imagined from Joan Lindsey’s 1967 novel of the same name.
Foxtel’s executive director of television Brian Walsh said Picnic at Hanging Rock contiues to fascinate people worldwide.
“The reaction we have received from broadcasters and video platforms in many countries is an enormous boost of confidence for our local industry and paves the way for the Australian film and television community to take its skills and expertise to audiences around the globe,” he said.
“It is a watershed moment for the talented creatives involved and testament to Foxtel’s unwavering commitment to Australian storytelling.”
From the outset of the first episode, it is clear the stunning imagery and cionematography will be as impressive as the cast’s performances.
Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer plays Mrs Appleyard, the head of an elite ladies boarding school.
We meet her as she prepares herself to start a new life far from England in remote regional Victoria.
Events of the first episode focus on the lead up to the mysterious disappearance of schoolgirls Miranda (Lily Sullivan), Marion (Madeleine Madden) and Irma (Samara Weaving) at Hanging Rock on February 14, 1900.
With six hours to tell the story as opposed to the two hours Peter Weir took in his 1975 adaptation, Foxtel’s new drama will have plenty of scope to develop the characters and let audiences understand and bond with them before the series finale.
Scenes at Hanging Rock and surrounding areas were filmed over two weeks in 2017.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s director of community wellbeing Karen Stevens said it was exciting to see Picnic at Hanging Rock told to a new generation.
“The original film and book brought attention to the area and brought in many visitors and it’s good to see this much loved story brought to a new generation,” she said.
“(Film) crews spent around 10 days filming at the Rock and also filmed at Sanitorium Lake at Mount Macedon Regional Park.”
“We anticipate that the mini series will inspire even more people to visit Hanging Rock and the broader region and look forward to welcoming people to our area.”
Ms Stevens said every precaution was taken by everyone involved to ensure filming did not impact local flora and fauna.
“Filming was guided and supervised by council to ensure it did not impact on the environment of the reserve,” she said.
We ensured the filming conformed to environmental and other requirements and the Rock remained open to visitors, who were still able to access it.”
Picnic at Hanging Rock’s will screen on Sunday, May 6, at 8.30pm on Foxtel’s Showcase channel and available to Foxtel On Demand subscribers and streamed on Foxtel Now.
Picnic at Hanging Rock is a Fremantle Media Australia production for Foxtel.