ABC’s award-winning drama returns to uncover a shadowy past in Mystery Road: Origin season two
Mark Coles Smith as Detective Jay Swan in Mystery Road: Origin season two. Photo credit David Dare Parker.
The ABC and Screen Australia are thrilled to announce production has commenced in Western Australia on the highly anticipated second season of the critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning series Mystery Road: Origin.
The six-part drama series continues to delve into the early years of Detective Jay Swan, played by AACTA Award-winning Lead Actor and proud Nyikina man Mark Coles Smith (We Bury The Dead, Beasts of War). Six months from when we last saw young Jay and his partner Mary, played by AACTA Award-winning Lead Actress Tuuli Narkle (NCIS S1 & S2, Territory), we find them attempting to forge a new life together on her mother’s Country, in the fading town of Loch Iris.
As Jay begins to investigate an unfolding case, Loch Iris closes ranks around him. And the more he pieces together the crime, the more he realises the entire town has been hiding a shadowy past. It’s a past that is still rippling through to the present. And with it, a secret, that threatens to tear Jay and Mary apart.
Coles Smith and Narkle will be joined by an impressive ensemble cast including Robyn Malcolm (After The Party, The Survivors), Clarence Ryan (Territory, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Geoff Morrell (Lord Of The Rings: Rings of Power, Ice Road 2: The Road To The Sky), Nicholas Bell (Elvis, Bay of Fires), Luke Carroll (Scrublands S2, The Artful Dodger), Helen Morse (The Eye Of The Storm, The Doctor Blake Mysteries), Aswan Reid (The New Boy, Beasts of War), Steve Le Marquand (Population 11, Christmess), Pippa Grandison (Population 11, After the Verdict), Rarriwuy Hick (Wentworth, True Colours) , Shantae Barnes-Cowan (Sweet As, Firebite), Tammy Lee Rock (The Sapphires, Boxing Day), Marley Sharp (The Circuit, Redfern Now), Alex Malone (The Royal Hotel, Colin From Accounts), Greg Tait (Firebite, Mad Bastards) and introducing Eloise Hart.
Screen Australia Head of First Nations Angela Bates said, “Audiences everywhere have been captivated by the rich characters, intricate backstories, and powerful themes explored throughout the Mystery Road world. We’re thrilled to be supporting this talented creative team as they deliver an exciting new chapter for Jay Swan and Mary Allen, who navigate the complexities of a new town, confront racism, and uncover hidden crimes of the past.”
ABC Head of Scripted Rachel Okine said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Bunya Productions on the highly anticipated return of this iconic series. With a stunning new WA location, impeccable cast and compelling crime story that delves deep into our social fabric, our ABC audiences are in for another absolute masterclass in outback noir".
Bunya Productions Producer Greer Simpkin said, “We are delighted to be on our next Mystery Road journey, where Detective Jay Swan heads to partner Mary’s hometown in the tall trees of the southern forests. There is murder, abduction and epic love, but it is the past, the ghosts of the stolen generation who haunt our story…
“This series was written by an entirely First Nations writing team. Outstanding directors Jub Clerc and Wayne Blair are at the helm. Returning to their iconic roles from Origin series one are Mark Coles Smith, Tuuli Narkle and Clarence Ryan along with a terrific ensemble cast including Robyn Malcolm. We are excited to bring to our audiences an entirely new Mystery Road world, a visual feast set in the trees, dams and waterways of the South West of Western Australia,” said Simpkin.
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall said, “A big welcome back to Bunya Productions and the ABC. We are so proud to have now hosted four seasons of this critically-acclaimed series in Western Australia. This time the majestic forests of Pemberton in the South West will provide the backdrop for Jay and Mary as they navigate their new life together. Congratulations to Greer, David and the entire Mystery Road team.”
Head of Screen NSW, Kyas Hepworth said, “Screen NSW is delighted to support another season of the critically acclaimed Mystery Road: Origin. Audiences in Australia and overseas can’t get enough of detective Jay Swan and I look forward to seeing where Bunya Productions and the creative team will take this next chapter in the franchise.”
All3Media International, EVP Content Maartje Horchner said, “Bunya Productions are celebrated for their cinematic, compelling, character-driven storytelling, so we are thrilled to once again partner with this exceptional team on the next chapter of Mystery Road: Origin. This acclaimed crime series, featuring some of Australia’s leading talent, has previously travelled to leading broadcasters across the globe, and we’re incredibly proud to bring this highly anticipated second season to our scripted slate.”
Mystery Road: Origin season two will air on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2025.
Season Two of Mystery Road: Origin will also screen later this year now directed by Jub Clerc and Wayne Blair.
“This picks up with Tuuli Narkle and Mark Coles Smith with their characters having moved into a new town, thehome of Mary. It’s set in the southwest of Western Australia, so it’s a completely different landscape, full of trees and lakes,” she continues.
“Robyn Malcolm from After the Party is also part of the ensemble cast in this one, which is really great, because that was such a success for our audience last year.”
Filmmakers and cast are set to attend the screening at Orana Cinemas Busselton on August 30, which will be followed by a Q&A.
Tickets are available at CinefestOZ website.
Mystery Road: Origin returns for season two this September
The ABC and Screen Australia are pleased to announce the highly anticipated return of critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning series Mystery Road: Origin, premiering Sunday 21 September at 8.15pm on ABC TV with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.
It’s Easter 2000, six months from when we last saw young Detective Jay Swan, played by AACTA Award-winning Lead Actor and proud Nyikina man Mark Coles Smith (We Bury The Dead, Beasts of War) and his partner Mary, played by AACTA Award-winning Lead Actress Tuuli Narkle (NCIS: Sydney, Territory). We find them attempting to forge a new life together on her mother’s Country, in the fading timber town of Loch Iris. It doesn’t take long though for the majesty of the tall trees in the brooding surrounding forests and the deep lake that shimmers at the edge of town to take on gothic dimensions.
As Jay begins to investigate an unfolding case, Loch Iris closes ranks around him. The more he pieces together the crime, the more he realises the entire town has been hiding a shadowy past. It’s a past that is still rippling through to the present and with it, a secret that threatens to tear Jay and Mary apart.
Mystery Road: Origin season two is written by an entirely First Nations writing team, alongside acclaimed directors Jub Clerc (Sweet AS, Total Control S3) and Wayne Blair (Mystery Road Series S2, Total Control).
Coles Smith and Narkle will be joined by an impressive ensemble cast including Robyn Malcolm (After The Party, The Survivors), Clarence Ryan (Territory, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga ), Geoff Morrell (Lord Of The Rings: Rings of Power, Ice Road 2: The Road To The Sky), Nicholas Bell (Elvis, Bay of Fires), Luke Carroll (Scrublands S2, The Artful Dodger), Helen Morse (The Eye Of The Storm, The Doctor Blake Mysteries), Aswan Reid (The New Boy, Beasts of War), Steve Le Marquand (Population 11, Christmess), Pippa Grandison (Population 11, After the Verdict), Rarriwuy Hick (Wentworth, True Colours), Shantae Barnes-Cowan (Sweet As, Firebite), Tammy Lee Rock (The Sapphires, Boxing Day), Marley Sharp (The Circuit, Redfern Now), Alex Malone (The Royal Hotel, Colin From Accounts), Greg Tait (Firebite, Mad Bastards) and introducing Eloise Hart
What a great series this is. From the two films, to the original two seasons of Mystery Road, to now a second season of Mystery Road Origin.
Good to read that we have an airdate now. Sunday 21 September at an odd time of 8.15pm.
Season 2 - EPISODE 1 OF 6
SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 8.15 PM
Jay Swan drives into the town of Loch Iris. It’s a new posting and a new beginning for Jay and Mary and Mary’s niece Anya.
As Jay and Mary reunite later that evening, we discover they’re about to become parents and we learn the town is where Mary’s mother is from.
When a young child goes missing Jay trawls the streets of Loch Iris and finds himself at elderly nun Sister Kerry’s house where he finds her an overflowing bath – dead.
EPISODE 2
SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 8.15 PM
Jay is frustrated at Simmo’s stance that Sister Kerry’s death was an accident and that she has no further information about Scarlett’s disappearance.
Tempers flare at the local pub with racist comments from Cowboy, alleged to be missing girl Scarlett’s father, aimed at Jay’s brother, Sputty. When Simmo later takes Jay with her to confront a group of local men, rifles in hand, they find Cowboy splayed out on the floor dead from a gunshot wound, a rifle beside him.
Jay follows Simmo to a field where more armed locals stand around. As they part, Jay sees Sputty chained to a tree.
Review:
EPISODE 3
SUNDAY 5 OCTOBER 8.15 PM
Mary leads Joey into the old locked ward and shows him the Native Admission Files which go back decades. He discovers his mother has been buried in an unmarked grave and Mary finds her adoption papers.
Jay has a suspect for the missing Scarlett – and now Anya- in his crosshairs as well as a suspect in Cowboy’s murder. He goes rogue, grabbing Joey and tying him up in a dark room, demanding answers.
Meanwhile, Mary collapses and is rushed to hospital.
across its four seasons - during production on 4 seasons.
EPISODE 4
SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 8.15 PM
Jay stands over the locked-up Joey, intimidating him for answer. Joey confesses he accidentally killed Sister Kerry. While Jay is dubious, something else Joey says suddenly makes sense to Jay; he thinks he knows where Anya is. With Simmo’s help, he discovers Anya was picked up and handed to a Case Manager.
While trying to get Anya back, Jay continues to investigate Sister Kerry’s death when an autopsy reveals signs of a struggle and Diazepam in her system - and Cowboy, now dead, is implicated in a Swayze’s sister Lana’s pregnancy.
EPISODE 5
SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER 8.15 PM
As terrible secrets are uncovered by Jay and Simmo, including the fate of both Donny and Sister Kerry, and the truth about the Loch Iris adoptions,
Mary’s waters break and she is gripped in the throes of labour. Jay and Mary are about to become parents.
EPISODE 6 FINAL
SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 8.15 PM
The solving of a thirty-year mystery reveals the depths of trauma Loch Iris has been concealing for decades. The killers are exposed. Through this fog of tragic history Jay and Mary are brought closer together.
Terrible secrets are uncovered by Jay and Simmo, including the fate of both Donny and Sister Kerry, and the truth about the Loch Iris adoptions. Mary’s waters break and she is gripped in the throes of labour.
Jay and Mary are about to become parents.
