The Warriors

###The Warriors

THE WARRIORS will air on ABC in 2017.

ABC TV, Screen Australia and Film Victoria announced today that filming has commenced in Melbourne on THE WARRIORS, a provocative new 8 x 30’ Indigenous comedy drama series.

Created by Tony Briggs (The Sapphires) and Robert Connolly (Paper Planes, Barracuda), THE WARRIORS is set in the world of Australian Rules Football. It explores the elite world of professional sport through the eyes of two new recruits - plucked from obscurity to fame and fortune - and two established players as they are thrown together in a share house in Melbourne.

With temptation at every turn and a lot of football, there’s no guarantee these young men will run through the banner for the first game of the season.

After a nationwide casting search, 18 year old Gordan Churchill will make his acting debut as Maki, the number one draft pick. Gordan was discovered in the remote Indigenous community of Warnum in the Kimberley Region. The series also introduces WAAPA graduate Nelson Baker as Zane, the number five draft pick.

Lisa McCune is the team’s tireless communications manager, Vince Colosimo is Coach Mark ‘Spinner’ Spinotti charged with getting the wooden spooners back in finals contention. Club president, footy legend Bill Shepherd, is played by John Howard, returning to the world of Australian Rules Football after starring in the 1980’s classic The Club.

Comedian Ben Knight is Scottie who is returning from his third knee reconstruction, and Reece Milne (Home and Away) plays Doc, the seasoned team-captain charged with showing the rookies the ropes. Newcomer Tasia Zalar is Zane’s sister Ava, who joins the boys to try out for the women’s league.

“What attracted us to this project was both the concept of following four mischievous footballers experiencing the highs, lows and often funny situations of life as an elite athlete, as well as the opportunity for Indigenous creatives to partner with highly regarded practitioners and accelerate along their career trajectory” said Penny Smallacombe, Head of Indigenous at Screen Australia.

“Film Victoria is delighted to be supporting the team behind The Warriors and also providing skills development opportunities for a number of Victorian Indigenous screen practitioners” said Jenni Tosi, CEO at Film Victoria.

“The Warriors is a wild ride that sees our characters teeter between temptation and dedication with the added layer of cross-cultural relations. It’s brilliant to be able to deal with this subject matter through a no-holds-barred comedy” said Sally Riley, the Head of Scripted Production.

THE WARRIORS is a landmark Australian television project, exclusively written and directed by some of the country’s finest Indigenous talent including Jon Bell (Cleverman), Tony Briggs (The Sapphires) and exciting newcomer Tracey Rigney. Directed by Adrian Russell Wills (Wentworth), Beck Cole (Black Comedy), Steven McGregor (Croker Island Exodus, Redfern Now) and straight from a director’s attachment on Alien: Covenant with Ridley Scott – Catriona McKenzie (The Circuit, Redfern Now and The Gods of Wheat Street). Produced by Arenamedia with John Harvey.

Produced by Arenamedia with the assistance of Screen Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Film Victoria. Worldwide distribution by Entertainment One (eOne).

Production Credits: An Arenamedia production in association with Screen Australia, ABC and Film Victoria. Written by Jon Bell, Tracey Rigney, Tony Briggs. Directed by Adrian Russell Wills, Beck Cole, Steven McGregor and Catriona McKenzie. Story Producer Justin Monjo. Produced by Robert Connolly, John Harvey and Liz Kearney. Screen Australia Executive Producer: Penny Smallacombe. ABC Executive Producers: Sally Riley and Jo Bell. eOne Executive Producer: Jude Troy.

###The Warriors

The Warriors is a comedy-drama that playfully explores the experiences of two Indigenous players in the professional world of Australian football and the pitfalls of being in the public eye. We get to know the draft recruits through the highs and lows of training, being in the media spotlight and navigating temptations as a result of newfound celebrity, all in the lead up to the first game of the season.

Lisa McCune is the team’s communications manager, fighting a losing battle to keep the boys out of trouble. Vince Colosimo is the coach responsible for getting the wooden spooners back in finals contention. The club president is played by John Howard. Newcomer Gordan Churchill has been cast as Maki, the number one draft pick who relocates from a remote Indigenous community to Melbourne to play the game he loves.

Production Credits: An Arenamedia production in association with ABC Television, Screen Australia and Film Victoria. Written by Jon Bell, Tracey Rigney, Tony Briggs. Directed by Adrian Russell Wills, Beck Cole, Steven McGregor and Catriona McKenzie. Story Producer Justin Monjo. Produced by Robert Connolly, John Harvey and Liz Kearney.

Runs for: Eight x 30min episodes on ABC TV and iview

Latest info from 2017 upfronts

Premieres Wednesday 12 April

Public screening for The Warriors.