“Vikings,” “Raised by Wolves” and “Dune: Prophecy” star Travis Fimmel will reprise his role as troubled Detective James Cormack in “Black Snow” Season 3, the Stan Original which returns to Queensland for another cold case, filming from April in Cairns.
“Boy Swallows Universe” breakout actor Lee Tiger Halley and “Anzac Girls” star Caroline Craig join Fimmel and George Mason (“The Power of the Dog”) as Ritchie Cormack and Rose Riley (“Stateless”) as Jade. Cast also includes Samson Alston (Stan Original “Year Of”).
AMC Networks returns as the North American associate-producer, taking North American rights, with All3Media International as international distributor.
Fimmel will not only star in “Black Snow” Season 3 but serve as an executive producer and direct at least one episode, as he did in Season 2, suggesting his considerable personal investment in the series.
Season 1 was set in the South Islander community in Queensland, the second season in the expanses leading up to its spectacular Glass House Mountains. Boasting a new mystery, a new supporting cast and a new location, Season 3 will move to tropical Far North Queensland.
“Black Snow” has always been a personal series, with Cormack, dishevelled, ingratiating and suffering childhood trauma, asking a guy in a pub at the beginning of Season 1 to punch his face. Season 3 looks to raise the personal stakes, however, as long-lost brother Ritchie about to stand trial for the 1999 murder of his best friend, Liam Knox. “Cormack will risk everything to solve the toughest cold case of his career,” All3Media International announced Wednesday.
The new season of “Black Snow” will be directed by Daniel Nettheim (Stan Original “The Assassin”), Christiaan Van Vuuren (“Top End Bub”) as well as Fimmel.
Produced once more by New South Wales’ Goalpost Pictures and created by Lucas Taylor, both behind the first two seasons, news of six-part mystery thriller’s Season 3, comes as All3Media Intl. has unveiled new deals on the series, led by Canal+ which has acquired France and French-speaking territories for crime platform Polar+.
Canal+ Luxembourg has licensed Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Public broadcaster VRT (Flemish Belgium), LNK (Lithuania), Media4Fun (Poland), Pickbox (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia), SIA Tet (Latvia) and Freedom Media (Kazakhstan) also have rights to both seasons. ABC acquired Season 1 in a pan-territory deal for Asia.
Added to previously announced deals such as TV4 in Sweden, MTV OY in Finland, Filmin in Spain, NPO in the Netherlands and MagentaTV in Germany, “Black Snow” has now sold most major territories in the world.
“Black Snow” has also received an upbeat critical reception. “‘Black Snow’ Season 2 sees Travis Fimmel at his best,” said Katie Doll at CBR. “Let’s have more of these smart, solid Australian genre pieces,” added Craig Mathieson at The Age.
“This new season promises another unforgettable, suspenseful mystery, and we’re grateful for the continued support of our valued partners, including Screen Queensland, Screen NSW, All3Media International, and Sundance Now, and look forward to sharing this sensational new season soon,” said Michael Healy, Nine Entertainment’s executive director, entertainment content commissioning.
“Creator Lucas Taylor and the writing team have crafted an intriguing and moving story, set in Far North Queensland’s stunning landscape, that I know will captivate audiences around the world,” added Goalpost Pictures’ Executive Producer Rosemary Blight.
For Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney, the series’ “continued global success highlights the strong audience appetite for authentic Queensland screen stories and the state’s unique landscapes which are inherent to ‘Black Snow.’ We look forward to hosting the production at Screen Queensland Studios, Cairns and the opportunities this series will bring to the Far North Queensland community.”
Rachel Glaister, EVP press and brands at All3Media International commented, “‘Black Snow’ has proven to be a critical commercial success. Fimmel’s performance is captivating and the plots are deftly crafted off emotional integrity and fabulous intrigue.”
Goalpost Pictures’ executive producers Blight (“Black Snow”), Kylie du Fresne (“The Invisible Man”) and Ben Grant (“Top End Bub”) return to the series, alongside executive producers Fimmel and Taylor.
Stan executive producers are Donna Chang and Andy Ryan. Taylor and Beatrix Christian return as writers, with Milly Olrog as producer, and Rob Marsh (“Deadloch”) as DP.
