Secret City

##Secret City

From Sunday 5 June at 8.30pm AEST

Foxtel Announces Airdate for SECRET CITY- New Australian political thriller premieres Sunday 5 June at 8.30pm on showcase

‘Set in a world of secrets, lies, murder and betrayal… beneath the placid facade of Canberra’

Foxtel today announced its highly anticipated political thriller series Secret City – starring Jacki Weaver, Anna Torv, Alan Dale and Dan Wyllie - will premiere Sunday June 5 at 8.30pm on the showcase channel.

Filmed in Parliament House and locations across Canberra and Sydney, Secret City is inspired by the best-selling novels The Marmalade Files and The Mandarin Code, written by Canberra political journalists Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis.

Amidst rising tension between China and America, Canberra press gallery journalist Harriet Dunkley (played by Anna Torv) forces her way closer to the truth, uncovering a secret city of interlocked conspiracies which will threaten her career, her life and endangers the freedom of every Australian.

Joining Torv is two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver, who makes a stunning return to Australian television in the role of Labor powerbroker Senator Catriona Bailey.

The top Australian and international cast includes:

  •         Dan Wyllie as Minister of Defence Mal Paxton
    
  •         Damon Herriman as ASD senior analyst Kim Gordon
    
  •         Alex Dimitriades as ASIO officer Charles Dancer
    
  •         Alan Dale as Australian Prime Minister Martin Toohey
    
  •         Mekhi Phifer as US Ambassador Moreton
    
  •         Sacha Horler as the PM’s Chief of Staff, Ludie Sypek
    
  •         Marcus Graham as Daily Nation political correspondent Andrew “Griff” Griffiths
    
  •         Miranda Tapsell as Daily Nation Canberra journalist Sasha Rose
    
  •         Eugenia Yuan as Weng Meigui, wife of the Chinese ambassador
    
  •         Benedict Samuel as Canberra University tutor Felix Crawford
    
  •         Brenna Harding as Canberra University student Cassie Page
    
  •         Matt Zeremes as Senior Constable Sean Brimmer
    
  •         Sean Taylor as ASIO Director General Paul Wheeler
    
  • Justin Smith as ASD Director William Vaughn
  • Huw Higginson as Daily Nation Bureau Chief

Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said: “This captivating new series is another huge moment for Foxtel’s commitment to Australian drama. There is no doubt of the level of interest in national affairs at the moment, and this series will immerse viewers into the un-tapped world of Australian politics and intrigue – not to mention power play, blackmail and murder. Canberra features as its own character, and the standout performances of Jacki Weaver and Anna Torv are world class”.

Ms Weaver said of returning to Australia to star in Secret City: “I loved the story and I loved the character,” she said. “It’s very authentic because the books were written by two insiders, Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis. Secret City tells behind-the-scenes of the machinations and the treachery and the interesting things that occur in politics.

“Catriona is a very powerful and ambitious woman. I’ve drawn inspiration, not from any one female politician in particular, but part of my character is based on an amalgam of female politicians I’ve seen, not just in Australia, but all over the world. I find politics fascinating, and I follow it closely, both in America where I now live most of the time, and here at home in Australia.”

Secret City is a Matchbox Pictures production for Foxtel, in association with Werner Film Productions, supported by Screen Australia, Screen ACT and Screen NSW, directed by Emma Freeman (Glitch, Tangle, Hawke, Puberty Blues) and produced by Joanna Werner (Dance Academy, Ready For This). Executive Producers are Foxtel’s Head of Drama Penny Win, and Penny Chapman, from Matchbox Pictures.

Matchbox Pictures’ Penny Chapman said: “Chris and Steve brought Matchbox this idea when their first book was in manuscript stage. It has been a wild and wonderful ride and I am enormously proud of the creative team that brought it to the screen. It’s exciting to be partnering yet again on a drama production with Foxtel who are doing such great things for television fiction in Australia.”

Producer Joanna Werner said: “We have been extremely lucky to have such a talented cast and crew working on Secret City. Our director Emma Freeman has done a superb job in bringing this intense political thriller to life and our cast, led by Jacki, Anna and Dan, who are all incredibly impressive.”

Secret City has been written by Matt Cameron (Jack Irish, Old School), Belinda Chayko (The Gods of Wheat Street, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Old School) and Greg Waters (Janet King, Devil’s Dust), who is also Script Producer.

Is anybody watching this? Is it any good?

It’s awesome! Season finale on Sunday. :frowning:

Thanks. It does look good. Impressive cast too. I’m shocked no one is talking about it. It hasn’t been rating great either which is a shame. Can’t wait to start watching it on the weekend now.

The Australian reports today that the drama has been renewed for a second season, however the announcement has been delayed as Foxtel is seeking a streaming platform to distribute the show internationally. Given Foxtel’s dislike of rivals like Netflix and Amazon, who would have thought that one day they may work together?

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SECRET CITY: Under the Eagle

Foxtel and Matchbox Pictures announce production of second series

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ANNA TORV and JACKI WEAVER return to headline in political thriller
DANIELLE CORMACK and ROB COLLINS join with returning cast SACHA HORLER and MARCUS GRAHAM

Foxtel and Matchbox Pictures today announced production of the second series of the Award-winning drama series Secret City. Secret City: Under the Eagle returns for its second season to be shot on location in the national capital, Canberra and Sydney from this week.

Produced by Matchbox Pictures, Secret City: Under the Eagle, a six part high stakes political thriller, is set in a world of secrets, lies, assassination and betrayal with a stellar cast line-up including two time Academy-Award nominee Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom, Silver Linings Playbook) who once again takes up the role of Labor powerbroker Catriona Bailey and Anna Torv (Fringe, Mindhunter) who won the 2017 Logie Award for ‘Most Outstanding Actress’ for her role as political journalist Harriet Dunkley.

Also returning are Sacha Horler (The Dressmaker, The Kettering Incident) as Sky channel presenter Ludie Sypek, Marcus Graham (Janet King, Crownies) as Bailey’s Chief of Staff Andrew “Griff” Griffiths and Justin Smith (Devil’s Playground, Deadline Gallipoli) as ASD Director William Vaughn.

New cast includes Logie and AACTA award-winning actress Danielle Cormack (Wentworth, Rake, Underbelly Razor) as SA Independent MP Karen Koutoufides and Logie Award-winning actor Rob Collins (The Wrong Girl, Cleverman) as Major Joseph Sullivan.

Further cast will be announced soon.

Secret City: Under the Eagle picks up with Harriet Dunkley (Torv), not long out of prison and who is unwittingly ensnared in a military and political cover-up with Catriona Bailey’s (Weaver) fingerprints all over it. Harriet’s search for the truth leads her back into Canberra’s corridors of power, this time working for a maverick Independent MP (Cormack). What she unearths is a military program so secret not even the Prime Minister knows about. Who is really running the country?

Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said: “Foxtel is delighted to announce this commission to join our drama roster for 2018. It is terrific to see this exciting series return for a second season, and wonderful to have our extraordinary leads Anna Torv and Jacki Weaver back on a Foxtel Original Series. We are very proud of the first season which enjoyed both critical and audience acclaim worldwide. This new story is absolutely captivating, with twists and turns that will keep audiences both guessing and riveted.”

Matchbox Pictures’ Penny Chapman said: “One day as we were working on ideas for the second series of Secret City, we watched President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address. His warning to the world, now even more relevant than ever, gave us the unsettling story we were looking for.”
Secret City: Under the Eagle will be directed by Tony Krawitz (The Kettering Incident, Devil’s Playground) and Daniel Nettheim (Doctor Who, Broadchurch).

Stephen Corvini (Safe Harbour, Hyde and Seek) will produce the series. Executive Producers are Foxtel’s Head of Drama Penny Win and Drama development executive Carly Heaton, Penny Chapman from Matchbox Pictures and the series showrunner Matt Cameron.

Secret City: Under the Eagle has been written by Matt Cameron (writer/co-producer/creator- Sunshine, writer/producer/creator- Jack Irish) and Belinda Chayko (showrunner/writer- Safe Harbour, story producer/writer- Barracuda) who both wrote for the first series and playwright Angela Betzien (Eggs, The Hanging) and Elise McCredie (Sunshine, Nowhere Boys).
The first series of Secret City was inspired by the best-selling novels The Marmalade Files and The Mandarin Code, written by political journalists Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis who join this series as story consultants.

Secret City: Under the Eagle is a Matchbox Pictures production for Foxtel, supported by Create NSW and will screen on Foxtel’s super drama channel, showcase. NBCUniversal International Distribution will distribute the series worldwide.

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SECRET CITY: Under the Eagle

Outstanding ensemble cast announced

Foxtel and Matchbox Pictures are excited to announce the outstanding ensemble cast for Secret City: Under the Eagle, a six part high stakes political thriller in production for its second season being shot on location in the national capital, Canberra and currently being shot in Sydney.

Joining the cast line-up for Secret City: Under the Eagle are Logie Award winning actor Don Hany (Ali’s Wedding, Tangle) who plays Australian Prime Minister Ewan Garrity and veteran actor Andrew MacFarlane (Glitch, Devil’s Playground) who plays Air Chief Marshall Wes Lockwood.

Adding to the impressive line-up are Joel Tobeck (Lord of The Rings, The Doctor Blake Mysteries) who plays Defence Minister Jim Hellier, Christopher Kirby (Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith, The Matrix Reloaded) who plays US Ambassador to Australia, Kip Buchanan, Tom Wren (Winners & Losers, Paradise Pictures) who plays Energy Lobbyist Alex Berezin and Laura Gordon (Hoges, Hunters) as Drone pilot Caroline Treloar.

They join the stellar cast who have previously been announced including lead Anna Torv (Fringe, Mindhunter) who won the Logie Award ‘Most Outstanding Actress’ for her role as Harriet Dunkley in the first series, Two time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom, Silver Linings Playbook), Danielle Cormack (Wentworth, Rake, Underbelly Razor), Rob Collins (The Wrong Girl, Cleverman), Sacha Horler (The Dressmaker, The Kettering Incident), Marcus Graham (Janet King, Crownies) and Justin Smith (Devil’s Playground, Deadline Gallipoli).

Secret City: Under the Eagle picks up with Harriet Dunkley (Torv), not long out of prison and who is unwittingly ensnared in a military and political cover-up with Catriona Bailey’s (Weaver) fingerprints all over it. Harriet’s search for the truth leads her back into Canberra’s corridors of power, this time working for a maverick Independent MP (Cormack). What she unearths is a military program so secret not even the Prime Minister knows about. Who is really running the country?

Secret City: Under the Eagle has been written by Matt Cameron (writer/co-producer/creator- Sunshine, writer/producer/creator- Jack Irish) and Belinda Chayko (showrunner/writer- Safe Harbour, story producer/writer- Barracuda) who both wrote for the first series and playwright Angela Betzien (Eggs, The Hanging) and Elise McCredie (Sunshine, Nowhere Boys).
Stephen Corvini (Safe Harbour, Hyde and Seek) will produce the series. Executive Producers are Foxtel’s Head of Drama Penny Win and Drama development executive Carly Heaton,
Penny Chapman from Matchbox Pictures and the series showrunner Matt Cameron.

Secret City: Under the Eagle will be directed by Tony Krawitz (The Kettering Incident, Devil’s Playground) and Daniel Nettheim (Doctor Who, Broadchurch).

Seems like a huge cast. Or do a lot of the characters from season one not return?

Season One popped up on Netflix recently. Just finished watching it. Decent little show.

Does look like many of the S1 cast don’t return, Jbra. At the risk of venturing into spoiler territory…

Some of the season one cast won’t return because their characters died in S1 or their stories came to a natural conclusion

Thanks. After giving up my Foxtel subscription, I have not been able to watch this one yet but sounds good.

SECRET CITY: Under the Eagle

The highly anticipated second series

From Monday 4 March at 8.30pm

Secret City: Under the Eagle , the second instalment of the critically acclaimed high stakes political thriller returns, with all six episodes released to stream on Foxtel from Monday March 4 at 8.30pm AEDT and also available to screen each week on FOX SHOWCASE.

Anna Torv ( Fringe , Mindhunter ) reprises her Logie Award winning role as Harriet Dunkley and once again joins two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver ( Animal Kingdom , Silver Linings Playbook ) to lead an outstanding ensemble cast, for the series filmed in Parliament House and locations across Canberra and Sydney.

Adding to the stellar cast line-up are Logie Award winning actors Danielle Cormack ( Wentworth, Rake, Underbelly Razor ) who plays maverick Independent MP Karen Kotoufides, Don Hany ( Ali’s Wedding, Tangle ) who plays Australian Prime Minister Ewan Garrity and Rob Collins ( The Wrong Girl, Cleverman ) who plays Lieutenant Joseph Sullivan.

The impressive line-up also includes Laura Gordon ( Hoges, Hunters ), veteran actor Andrew MacFarlane ( Glitch, Devil’s Playground ), Justin Smith ( Devil’s Playground, Deadline Gallipoli ), Joel Tobeck ( Lord of The Rings, The Doctor Blake Mysteries ), Louisa Mignone ( Rake, Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries) , Marcus Graham ( Janet King, Crownies ) and Sacha Horler ( The Dressmaker, The Kettering Incident ) amongst others.

Secret City: Under the Eagle picks up with Harriet Dunkley (Torv), not long out of prison and unwittingly ensnared in a military and political cover-up with Catriona Bailey’s (Weaver) fingerprints all over it. Harriet’s search for the truth leads her back into Canberra’s corridors of power, this time working for a maverick Independent MP (Cormack). What she unearths is a military program so secret not even the Prime Minister (Hany) is aware of it and begs the question of who is really running the country?

Secret City: Under the Eagle is written by Matt Cameron (writer/co-producer/creator- Sunshine, writer/producer- Jack Irish ) and Belinda Chayko (showrunner/writer- Safe Harbour, story producer/writer- Barracuda ) who both wrote for the first series and playwright Angela Betzien ( Eggs, The Hanging ) and Elise McCredie ( Sunshine, Nowhere Boys ).

Stephen Corvini ( Safe Harbour, Hyde and Seek ) is producer for the series, Matt Cameron is showrunner and Executive Producers are Foxtel’s Head of Drama Penny Win and Drama development executive Carly Heaton and Penny Chapman from Matchbox Pictures.

Secret City: Under the Eagle is directed by Tony Krawitz ( The Kettering Incident, Devil’s Playground ) and Daniel Nettheim ( Doctor Who, Broadchurch ).

The first series of Secret City was inspired by the best-selling novels The Marmalade Files and The Mandarin Code , written by political journalists Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis who join this series as story consultants.

Secret City: Under the Eagle is a Matchbox Pictures production for Foxtel, supported by Create NSW and Screen Canberra. NBCUniversal International Distribution will distribute the series worldwide.

Still need to get through first season. Looks good.

Looks like the rest of the world can watch season 2 on Netfilx from 6 March.

Great episode last night. Noticed they used the ABC News Canberra studio for a bit of it.

Chris Uhlmann, co-author of the book the original series was based on, playing a journalist in episode 3 of series 2.