Lambs of God

Lambs of God

Cameras roll on dark gothic tale

A four- part Original Foxtel drama event

Foxtel today announced its next landmark event drama series commission, LAMBS OF GOD, which will premiere in 2019.

Lambs of God is a dark, gothic tale about three nuns, each a generation apart, living in an isolated convent by the coast, and an unwelcome visitor who enters their lives and changes their world forever. It has commenced production at Fox Studios Australia.

The nuns, who live in solitude from the rest of the world on a remote and rugged island, have their lives turned upside down when an ambitious young priest, Father Ignatius, accidentally stumbles across the three Sisters as he arrives on a mission from the Church.

Based on the captivating Australian novel Lambs of God by Marele Day, the twisted and macabre tale will be brought to life on screen by an international all-star cast, led by Emmy Award- winning actress Ann Dowd (The Handmaids Tale, The Leftovers).

She will be joined by Australian stage and screen star Essie Davis (Game of Thrones, The Slap, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Babadook, and the upcoming The True History of The Kelly Gang), and UK actress, Jessica Barden (The End Of The F*****World, The Lobster) who, as the three Sisters of St Agnes, must defend their lives, existence and beliefs when the handsome priest, played by actor Sam Reid (The Railway Main, Belle, Anonymous) attempts to sell their dilapidated monastery. What unfolds is an epic and fantastical tale of faith, love and redemption.

Foxtel Head of Drama Penny Win said: “Lambs of God is a lush, evocative drama that is both ancient and incredibly modern, with its timeless message of resilience, and the power of story-telling as a redemptive force.

Marele Day’s unique novel stayed with me long after I’d finished reading it, and screenwriter Sarah Lambert has taken the story and enriched it in ways that are fresh and engaging. At every creative level, the talent attached to this project is world-class, and we are very proud to be working with Lingo Pictures to bring to life this truly unique series.”

Lingo Pictures Producer Jason Stephens said: “There are few stories as original as Lambs of God. Pitched to Foxtel as "Feral Nuns in a Monastery,” this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver something that is truly different to any other drama produced before in Australia.

Lambs of God is already generating an enormous buzz thanks to its compelling script and the prestigious cast and crew that it has attracted. It’s a joy to work with Foxtel and have their unwavering support as we start to roll cameras on this moving, thrilling and often darkly humourous tale.”

Sky Vision Scripted Acquisition Manager Moreyba Bidessie said: "Lambs of God is such a unique and distinct story - and with Lingo Pictures and Foxtel at the helm, will be beautifully realised. And we are nothing but delighted to be representing the show internationally.

We feel, that with the incredible line-up of international cast - alongside the top notch creative team - will have huge appeal to many markets around the world.”

The provocative four part series has been adapted for the screen by Writer/Showrunner Sarah Lambert (Love Child, A Place To Call Home, Dance Academy, Love My Way), and will be directed by Jeffrey Walker (Modern Family, Ali’s Wedding, Dance Academy, Super Fun Night, Rake, Jack Irish) Cinematographer and Academy Award-nominee Don McAlpine (Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet, X Men Origins: Wolverine, The Dressmaker) will make his first foray into television drama as Director of Photography, with the series filmed on locations across Sydney, The Blue Mountains, the NSW South Coast and Tasmania.

Produced by Jason Stephens ,Lingo Pictures, Lambs of God will be helmed by Australia’s most prolific, television drama executives: Lingo Executive Producer, Helen Bowden (The Slap, Devils Playground, Wake in Fright); Foxtel Executive Producer, Penny Win (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Wentworth, A Place To Call Home); Endemol Shine Australia Executive Producers, Carl and Mark Fennessy (INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, Blue Murder: Killer Cop, Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Catching Milat, Offspring,) together with Producer Elisa Argenzio (Fighting Season, Wolf Creek, Underbelly) and Producer Sarah Lambert (Love Child).

Lambs of God received production investment funding from Screen Australia in association with Create NSW, the Tasmanian Government (through Screen Tasmania), and Endemol Shine Australia. The series will be distributed internationally by Sky Vision.

Terrific cast and intriguing plot. Looking forward to it…

Looks great but I don’t know why the Government can’t stipulate that if Australian taxpayers are investing in productions, Australians must be cast in every role. We have an oversupply of talented actors and actresses but Foxtel and the ABC seem to spend a lot getting overseas talent to headline series’. Does it make the series more sellable to overseas markets or something?

I agree to a certain extent but drama in particular is now geared towards selling on platforms and probably benefits from international casting.

Scoring Ann Dowd in particular is quite a coup.

That said, we have some fantastic actors of a certain vintage who just aren’t working.

LAMBS OF GOD TO PREMIERE IN COMPETITION AT FRANCE’S SERIES MANIA

Lambs of God, the new four-part drama from Australia’s Lingo Pictures, has been invited to screen in Official Competition at the international television festival Series Mania.

The March screening in Lille, France, will be the world premiere and the series will have its television premiere on Foxtel in mid-2019.

Lambs of God is a gothic and gripping tale about three nuns, each a generation apart, living on an isolated island. Based on the captivating Australian novel by Marele Day, the twisted and macabre story has an international all-star cast, led by Emmy Award-winning actress Ann Dowd ( The Handmaids Tale, The Leftovers ), Australian screen star Essie Davis ( Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Slap ), and from the UK, Jessica Barden ( The End of the F*** World* ). As the three Sisters of St Agnes, they must defend their very existence when a young priest with a hidden agenda, Sam Reid ( Bloom, Prime Suspect ), suddenly arrives at their dilapidated monastery. What unfolds is an epic and fantastical tale of faith, love and redemption.

Produced by Lingo Pictures’ Jason Stephens, this provocative four-part series has been adapted for the screen by writer Sarah Lambert ( Love Child, A Place to Call Home, Love My Way ), and directed by Jeffrey Walker ( Modern Family, Ali’s Wedding, Super Fun Night, Rake). Cinematographer is Academy Award-nominee Don McAlpine ( Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Dressmaker ) making his first foray into television drama.

Lingo Pictures, headed by Helen Bowden and Jason Stephens, is also producing the upcoming series Upright, starring Tim Minchin for Foxtel .

“Helen and I are immensely proud for Lambs of God to premiere at such a brilliant showcase for exceptional television. Making this unlikely thriller has been a joy. We can’t thank Foxtel enough for being bold enough to commission it, and our cast and crew for committing so profoundly to this strange world, these unusual characters and the timely ideas at the heart of the story.” producer Jason Stephen said.

Executive Producer and Foxtel’s Head of Drama Penny Win said “ Lambs of God is a magnificent addition to our strong and diverse local drama line up. Lingo has assembled an incredible cast and creative team who have delivered a world class series that is unlike anything else on Australian television”.

Lambs of God was filmed on location across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the NSW South Coast and Tasmania, as well as at Fox Studios Australia. Principal production investment comes from Foxtel in association with Screen Australia, with support from Create NSW, Cumulus VFX and Screen Tasmania.

SERIES MANIA brings to the large screen the best series in the world. It offers its audience – some 55,700 spectators in 2018, and more than 2,000 television professionals – a unique opportunity, throughout the 9-day event, to meet in Lille the most renowned creators, screenwriters and directors of the contemporary serial universe.

The show got a great reception at Series Mania last week.

The latest promo looks outstanding and certainly different to what I was expecting this series to be like. Can’t wait for it.


The mini-series will be aired across two weeks with double episodes on Sunday nights, July 21 and 28. Why not just show it one episode per week?

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LAMBS OF GOD

From Sunday 21 July at 8.30pm

The Foxtel Original Drama LAMBS OF GOD , a provocative four part series, will premiere with a movie length double episode on Sunday, July 21 at 8.30pm, available to stream on Foxtel or watch on Fox Showcase.

Lambs of God is the epic and fantastical tale of faith, love and redemption. Three nuns, each a generation apart, are living in seclusion on an isolated island. Forgotten by the rest of the world, the nuns live a harmonious life inside a dilapidated monastery, where they work, pray and knit while telling each other fairy tales, until one day an ambitious young priest, Father Ignatius, discovers the three Sisters when he arrives on a mission from the Church.

Based on the best-selling Australian novel by Marele Day , Lambs of God is brought to life on screen by an international all-star cast, including Emmy Award winning actress Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Leftovers), Australia’s much loved stage and screen star Essie Davis (Game of Thrones, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Babadook, The Slap), UK actress Jessica Barden (The End of the F*****World, The Lobster), Australian actor Sam Reid (The Railway Main, Belle, Anonymous). Along with Kate Mulvany , Daniel Henshall , Damon Herriman , John Bell and Sigrid Thornton .

LAMBS OF GOD recently screened in official competition at Series Mania in France drawing praise from audiences and critics. One reviewer described it as ‘the best series of the official competition’ .

The cast highly praised the production with Essie Davis describing it as “ a great romantic work of art ”. Ann Dowd said “ I ’ll never forget it for as long as I live. It was quite an extraordinary experience,” while Sam Reid enthused “ it’s complicated and interesting and I’m very proud to be in it ”.

LAMBS OF GOD is beautifully adapted for the screen by writer Sarah Lambert (Love Child, A Place to Call Home, Love My Way), and directed by Jeffrey Walker (Modern Family, Ali’s Wedding, Rake, Jack Irish). Cinematographer and Academy Award-nominee Don McAlpine (The Dressmaker, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet), has made his first foray into television drama as Director of Photography.

Executive Producers are Penny Win from Foxtel and Helen Bowden from Lingo Pictures. LAMBS OF GOD was produced by Jason Stephens (Lingo Pictures) and Sarah Lambert in association with Endemol Shine Australia. Lambs of God received production investment funding from Screen Australia in association with Create NSW and Screen Tasmania. The series will be distributed internationally by Sky Vision.

Movie length double episode of LAMBS OF GOD begins Sunday, July 21 at 8.30pm, stream on Foxtel or watch on Fox Showcase. Then Sunday July 28, Episode 3 and 4 combined will stream and screen on Fox Showcase from 8.30pm. All episodes will be available to stream from July 28 on Foxtel.

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this is one of my favorite foxtel shows. with game of thrones and a place to call home. it was fantastic , i was hooked


The series debuted on SoHo2 on Sky NZ last night. It will be shown at 8.30pm Tuesdays and repeated at 9.30pm Thursdays from tomorrow, August 8.

C21 reports Lambs of God has been acquired by new streaming service BritBox, which is a joint venture of BBC and ITV and was launched in the UK yesterday (November 7).

8 awards for Lambs of God including best miniseries, best direction, best cinematography, best original score and best sound after a record breaking 14 nominations

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