Troppo

Television ABC
1

Thomas Jane goes Troppo in new ABC crime series to film in Queensland

REN_9707-1022x1536
Thomas Jane

The Queensland Government today announced its support for new ABC crime series Troppo, starring Thomas Jane (The Expanse, Hung) and secured via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy to film exclusively in Queensland with locations stretching from the South East through to the tropical Far North.

Based on Candice Fox’s bestselling novel Crimson Lake, the eight-part series centres on disgraced ex-cop Ted Conkaffey (Thomas Jane) mismatched with eccentric Private Investigator Amanda Pharrell to help uncover the whereabouts of a missing Korean family man and tech pioneer. As they begin to uncover a string of bizarre deaths, the unlikely duo is thrust into a mutual fight for survival and sanity in the wilds of Far North Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this was more good news for Queensland with the project estimated to return more than $10 million back to the local economy and create approximately 130 jobs for Queensland cast, crew and extras.

“It’s also great news for our tourism industry, which benefits from Queensland’s stunningly diverse locations being showcased on screen to Australians eager to holiday in the sunshine state.

“With all the ingredients to become another hit crime series for the ABC, we are proud to have Troppo, an Australian-made production, filming in Queensland from the middle of the year.”

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said, “The ABC has a fantastic track-record for commissioning hit crime series like Harrow, which Screen Queensland has supported from Season 1 through to the current Season 3, and Troppo promises to be no exception.

“Screen Queensland is committed to investing in high quality Australian-made drama and we know that the talented team at EQ Media Group and Beyond Entertainment will bring Candice Fox’s compelling characters to full life on screen.”

EQ Media CEO Greg Quail said, “EQ Media and Beyond Entertainment are excited to be bringing together Australia’s national broadcaster and screen agencies with the powerhouse that is AGC Studios, to ensure that Troppo has the creative and financial backbone to deliver on Candice’s story and Yolanda’s vision.

“We look forward to producing this premium drama for audiences globally to enjoy.”

Troppo is created for television by Yolanda Ramke (Cargo, The Haunting of Bly Manor), with Jocelyn Moorhouse (Wakefield, Stateless) as set-up director.

The series, also financed by ABC, AGC Studios and Screen Australia, alongside support from the City of Gold Coast, will premiere on ABC and ABC iview in 2022.

2 Likes
2
3

Action called on new crime series Troppo

In Queensland, cameras are rolling on Troppo – the exciting new eight-part crime drama series based on Candice Fox’s bestselling novel Crimson Lake . Headlining the series are Thomas Jane ( The Expanse, The Vanished ) as Ted Conkaffey and TV Week Logie award nominated actress Nicole Chamoun ( Safe Harbour, On The Ropes ) as PI Amanda Pharrell.

Filming under covid safe conditions, the supporting cast includes David Lyons (Seven Seconds, Truth), Sun Park ( Wentworth Season 5, Hi-5 ), Simon Lyndon (Chopper, The Thin Red Line), Yerin Ha (Halo, Reef Break), Kate Beahan (Lucifer, Law & Order: True Crime), Angela Punch McGregor ( We of the Never Never, The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith), Thomas Weatherall ( RFDS, Deadlock ), Damien Garvey ( Harrow, Jack Irish ), Cramer Cain (The Straits, Redfern Now), Ling Cooper Tang ( A Sunburnt Christmas, Top of the Lake, China Girl ) and Peta Wilson ( La Femme Nikita, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen ).

Set in the wilds of Far North Queensland, Troppo is the story of disgraced ex-cop Ted Conkaffey (Thomas Jane) who is begrudgingly recruited by Amanda Pharrell (Nicole Chamoun) – an eccentric PI with a disturbing criminal past – to investigate the murder of a brilliant research scientist. As they battle to uncover the truth, and the tightly held secrets of Crimson Lake, their own traumatic pasts are dragged painfully into the present – tearing them apart, as each of them faces their own fight for sanity and indeed survival.

Troppo ’s impressive creative team is led by the Hollywood Film Festival award-winner Yolanda Ramke ( Cargo, The Haunting of Bly Manor ). Series produced by Karl Zwicky (Janet King, Underbelly Files: Chopper), AACTA award-winner Jocelyn Moorhouse ( The Dressmaker, Wakefield ) is set-up director, alongside Catherine Millar ( Doctor Doctor, The Secrets She Keeps ), Grant Brown ( Janet King, Harrow ) and co-directors Yolanda Ramke & Ben Howling ( Cargo, The Haunting of Bly Manor ). Script Producer is Jane Allen ( Cleverman, Janet King ) with writers Blake Ayshford ( Mystery Road, Fighting Season ), Penelope Chai ( Eden, Other People’s Problems ), Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road, Robbie Hood), Craig Irvin (Nowhere Boys, The New Legends of Monkey) and Andrew Lee (Parent Up, Melon Grab).

In making the announcement the producers said: “EQ Media and Beyond Entertainment are thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and crew, bringing life to the world of Crimson Lake and the gripping journey of Ted Conkaffey and Amanda Pharrell as, together, they struggle to unravel the intertwined and dangerous secrets of the past and present amid the ever-changing shadows of tropical North Queensland.”

Troppo will premiere on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2022.

IMDb TV, Amazon’s premium free streaming service, acquired the series from the show’s distributor and co-financier AGC Television, the television production and distribution division of Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, for the U.S.

Production Credits: Based on Candice Fox’s bestselling novel Crimson Lake , Troppo is an EQ Media Group and Beyond Entertainment production in association with Renegade Entertainment, with major production financing from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, AGC Studios in association with Aperture Media Partners, and Screen Australia in association with Screen Queensland and with support from the City of Gold Coast. Creator Yolanda Ramke. Series Producer Karl Zwicky. Executive Producers: Greg Quail, Lisa Duff, and Simonne Overend (EQ Media Group); Mikael Borglund and David Ogilvy (Beyond Entertainment); Stuart Ford and Lourdes Diaz and co-EP Matt Bankston (AGC Studios); Sally Riley and Andrew Gregory (Australian Broadcasting Corporation); and Thomas Jane and Courtney Lauren Penn (Renegade Entertainment); and Yolanda Ramke. Australian Broadcasting Corporation Deputy Head of Scripted Production: Alex Baldwin. AGC International is handling international distribution.

2 Likes
4

image
image789×1092 114 KB

ABC 2022 Upfronts info

8x60

Set in the wilds of Far North Queensland, Troppo is the story of disgraced ex-cop Ted Conkaffey (Thomas Jane) who is begrudgingly recruited by Amanda Pharrell (Nicole Chamoun) - an eccentric private investigator with a disturbing criminal past - to investigate what emerges to be the murder of a brilliant tech pioneer.

As they battle to uncover the truth amid the tightly held secrets of Crimson Lake, their own traumatic pasts are dragged painfully into the present - tearing them apart, as each of them faces their own fight for sanity and indeed survival.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Inspired by Candice Fox’s bestselling novel Crimson Lake, Troppo is an EQ Media Group, Beyond Entertainment and AGC Television production in association with Aperture Media Partners and Renegade Entertainment, with major production financing from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and Screen Australia in association with Screen Queensland and with support from the City of Gold Coast. Creator Yolanda Ramke. Producer Lisa Duff.

Series Producer Karl Zwicky. Executive Producers: Greg Quail, Lisa Duff, Simonne Overend (EQ Media Group); Mikael Borglund and David Ogilvy (Beyond Entertainment); Stuart Ford and Lourdes Diaz and co-EP Matt Bankston (AGC Studios); Thomas Jane and Courtney Lauren Penn (Renegade Entertainment) and Yolanda Ramke. ABC Executive Producers: Sally Riley and Andrew Gregory. ABC Deputy Head of Scripted Production Alex Baldwin. International distribution by AGC Television. In the U.S.A, Troppo will exclusively air on IMDb TV, Amazon’s free streaming service.

Troppo heats up ABC in February

Binge all episodes on ABC iview or watch weekly on ABC TV

Troppo premieres on Sunday 27th February at 8.30pm on ABC TV with all episodes available to binge on ABC iview.

Troppo , the gripping new crime series, kicks off ABC’s stellar 2022 Australian drama slate. Inspired by Candice Fox’s bestselling novel Crimson Lake , and starring Thomas Jane ( The Expanse, The Vanished ) and TV Week Logie award nominated actress Nicole Chamoun ( Safe Harbour, On The Ropes ), the eight-part series premieres Sunday 27th February at 8.30pm on ABC TV with all episodes available to binge on ABC iview.

Set in the wilds of tropical Far North Queensland, Troppo centres on a disgraced ex-cop Ted Conkaffey (Thomas Jane), who is recruited by an ex-con turned private investigator, Amanda Pharrell (Nicole Chamoun), to solve the disappearance of a Korean family man and tech pioneer.

Amanda has only been back in town a year, after serving time for a crime she committed as a teenager. She’s not exactly welcome, but she’s fine with that. She’s dealt with much worse in prison.

Ted, falsely accused of a terrible crime, fled Sydney to hide out in the tropics. Drummed out of the police force, with his name dragged through the mud, he is overwhelmed with the guilt of leaving his wife and child behind. The last thing Ted wants to do is put himself back in the spotlight, but an intriguing invitation to solve a disappearance and then a bizarre death, provides just the distraction and challenge he needs.

From crocodile infested waters to a tech start-up’s headquarters, this unlikely pair of investigators poke their noses where they’re not wanted – much to the annoyance of the local police. As they edge closer to the truth, exposing the underbelly of the Crimson Lake community and opening old wounds, they find themselves plunged into a fight for survival.

1 Like
6
7

ABC Head of Specialist & Entertainment Michael Carrington has told TV Tonight:

I have seen two episodes. It’s quirky, and surprising but in a calm way, not an exaggerated way.

8

World Premiere

image
image919×573 95.4 KB

From Sunday 27 February 8.40pm

Amanda Pharrell, an eccentric private investigator with a disturbing criminal past, recruits disgraced ex-cop Ted Conkaffey, to help solve the disappearance of a Korean tech pioneer. CAST: Nicole Chamoun, Thomas Jane

Set in the wilds of tropical Far North Queensland, and inspired by Candice Fox’s bestselling novel Crimson Lake, the eight-part series centres on a disgraced ex-cop Ted Conkaffey (Thomas Jane), who is recruited by an ex-con turned private investigator, Amanda Pharrell (Nicole Chamoun), to solve the disappearance of a Korean family man and tech pioneer.

Amanda has only been back in town a year, after serving time for a crime she committed as a teenager. She’s not exactly welcome, but she’s fine with that. She’s dealt with much worse in prison.

Ted, falsely accused of a terrible crime, fled Sydney to hide out in the tropics. Alone and with no real purpose, he is overwhelmed with the guilt of leaving his wife and child behind. Drummed out of the police force, with his name dragged through the mud, the last thing Ted wants to do is put himself back in the spotlight. But an intriguing invitation to solve a disappearance, provides just the distraction and challenge he needs.

From crocodile infested waters to a tech giant’s headquarters, this unlikely pair poke their noses where they’re not wanted, in search of the truth - much to the annoyance of the local police department. They dig into the underbelly of the Crimson Lake community, opening up old wounds and uncovering a string of bizarre deaths. As they edge closer to the truth, they find themselves plunged into a mutual fight for survival.

Production credit: EQ Media Group and Beyond Entertainment production in association with Renegade Entertainment, with major production financing from the ABC, AGC Studios in association with Aperture Media Partners, and Screen Australia, Screen Queensland and with support from the City of Gold Coast. Creator Yolanda Ramke. Producer Lisa Duff. Series Producer Karl Zwicky.

Executive Producers: Greg Quail, Lisa Duff, and Simonne Overend (EQ Media Group); Mikael Borglund and David Ogilvy (Beyond Entertainment); Stuart Ford and Lourdes Diaz and co-EP Matt Bankston (AGC Studios); Sally Riley and Andrew Gregory (ABC); and Thomas Jane and Courtney Lauren Penn (Renegade Entertainment); and Yolanda Ramke.

9
10

Troppo will premiere on Amazon Freevee (currently known as IMDb TV) in the US on May 20. Troppo will be one of the first original series to premiere on the free streaming platform after it rebrands as Amazon Freevee on April 27.

Here is the US trailer.

11
12

Surprised they made a second season.

13

Season 2

image
image1440×1855 154 KB

Six months on, and Ted (Thomas Jane) and Amanda (Nicole Chamoun) investigate a bizarre local murder and an exotic drug ring, whilst Amanda tangles with an old enemy and a new love, and Ted’s past stalks him and his family to Crimson Lake - with deadly consequences.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

A Perpetual Entertainment and Beyond Entertainment (a Banijay company) production in association with Renegade Entertainment, with major production financing from AGC Television in association with Screen Queensland, the series will have its Australian premiere on ABC TV and ABC iview. International Sales: LEONINE Studios.

1 Like
14

(Bonn is currently streaming on SBS on Demand)

15

Season 2 commences Friday July 05 8:25pm

16

Friday? That’s weird.

17

Series 2, Episode 1

image

Friday 5 July 8.25pm

Six months on, Ted (Thomas Jane) and Amanda (Nicole Chamoun) investigate a bizarre local murder and an exotic drug ring. Amanda tangles with an old enemy and a new love, and Ted’s past stalks him and his family.

It’s a hot and humid night in Crimson Lake when a mysterious figure shoves a burning body over a cliff… landing on a pair of lovers far below, killing one of them. In Sydney, Ted (Thomas Jane) is enjoying his daughter’s birthday, but his attempt to reconcile with his family is ruined when the police arrive with a warrant to search the house, still convinced Ted is guilty of the assault on Claire Bingley.

Meanwhile, Amanda (Nicole Chamoun) takes tentative steps towards dating but bolts from an intriguing woman who turns out to be Detective Pip Sweeney (Zindzi Okenyo), newly arrived in Crimson Lake, to investigate the murder of Julian Naughton (Andrew Buchanan), the burning body. Sweeney’s prime suspect is Julian’s son Raph (Ethan Lwin) - but Raph’s girlfriend Tayla (Miah Madden) is adamant that he is innocent and hires Ted and Amanda to prove it.

Visiting Julian’s business, Family Tree, the PIs learn Julian’s prized E-Type Jaguar was stolen the night he died. After talking to Val, Amanda identifies the second body as the wife of a violent bikie, and discovers that her secret lover, Zach (Alex Kaan), was with her and therefore a potential witness to Julian’s death. However, they must rescue him from Erin’s bikie husband in order to question him!. Shaken, Zach admits he witnessed Julian’s blazing body falling from the cliff but saw nothing else.

With Zach a dead-end, Ted follows Julian’s money trail to an abandoned building, where he finds himself at the wrong end of a shotgun while Amanda runs into Twist (Simon Lyndon) at the morgue, standing over Julian’s burned body. Her nemesis is back in town.

Production Credit: A Perpetual Entertainment and Beyond Entertainment (a Banijay company) production in association with Renegade Entertainment.

19

Episode 2

image

Friday 12 July 8.20pm

Ted and Amanda investigate Julian’s neighbours, cane farmers adjoining Family Tree, and discover that they harbour a bitter grudge against Julian over the death of their son but are they capable of murder?

Wounded from a shotgun blast of rock salt, Ted (Thomas Jane) is no closer to understanding Julian’s payments to White Hat Investments. He calls Amanda (Nicole Chamoun), who is rattled after her encounter with Twist (Simon Lyndon) and is convinced he must have had a hand in Julian’s (Andrew Buchanan) murder. However, they soon learn Twist is Julian’s half-brother and Raph’s (Ethan Lwin) uncle.

Ted and Amanda investigate Family Tree’s neighbours, Max (Robert Mammone) and Stella McQuillan (Di Adams), but find them less than cooperative. They discover that the McQuillans’ son, died in a boating accident three years earlier with Raph at the helm, and both boys high on a mystery drug. The McQuillans harbour a bitter grudge against Julian after he pulled strings to keep Raph out of trouble. With no solid alibis for the night Julian died, Ted and Amanda put the McQuillans at the top of the suspect list.

That night, while Raph torches the McQuillan’s memorial to their dead son, Amanda discovers Twist has gifted her a deadly snake, and Ted sees Julian’s stolen E-Type Jag whiz past him on the road.

20

Did the ABC have a change of heart?

EDIT: never mind, the ABC has fixed the scheduling error. It will air on Friday nights as previously announced.

21

Episode 3

image

Friday 19 July 8.20pm

Amanda and Ted focus on the ‘leaded fuel’ clue trail, which leads Amanda into danger with a croc-poaching family, while Ted is distracted by the arrival of his daughter and an unexpected Kelly (Radha Mitchell).

Ted (Thomas Jane) rescues Raph (Ethan Lwin) from a police shitstorm for burning the McQuillan boat. Raph confides that his shirt, which the police have for testing, does have another set of blood on it – Julian’s (Andrew Buchanan) – but he swears he didn’t kill his father.

Amanda pressures Ted to dig into the Claire Bingley case, but Ted insists she focuses on Julian’s murder. Amanda’s convinced they’ll find his killer if they find his car. When they discover Julian had argued with local car mechanic Mario (Ron Smyck) over the servicing of his prized Jag, Mario becomes a suspect. They set a trap that will provoke Mario to lead them to the Jag.

When Ted is distracted by Lilly’s arrival for a visit, Kelly with her, Amanda decides to follow Mario alone. She tracks him to Julian’s Jag, stowed by a crocodile poaching family, who seem equally prepared to kill PIs as reptiles. Alarmed by Amanda’s messages, Ted has to abandon his recently arrived family to rescue her while the police arrest the poachers and confiscate a mystery drug from one of them.

Later, Amanda barges into Ted’s house and blurts out her belief that he’s refusing to help solve the Claire Bingley case because he doesn’t want his family back – only to discover Ted’s wife and daughter have heard every word.

22