James R | On 29, Jul 2017

“You can’t fix the situation. It’s happened. Learn from it.”

That’s the sound of Cleverman returning for a second season, as the Australia dystopian drama prepares to serve up more action, more sci-fi and a whole heap of tough lessons.

The series is set in the near-future and sees a species from ancient mythology living among humans and battling for survival in a world that wants to silence, exploit and destroy them. At the heart of the story are two estranged brothers, Koen and Waruu West, who are forced together to fight against terrifying enemies, both human and not of this world. But can Koen, a man bestowed with a powerful gift and destined to become the ‘Cleverman’, learn to harness his power before everything around him crumbles?

The show is directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires) and Leah Purcell, with an ensemble cast that includes Frances O’Connor, Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires), Hunter Page-Lochard (The Sapphires), Rob Collins (The Lion King), Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games) and Iain Glen. The production also boasts creatures and effects from the Oscar-winning Weta Workshop.

The show is written by Michael Miller, Jon Bell and Jane Allen and based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen.

“Cleverman cleverly utilises indigenous Aboriginal culture as the backdrop of a science fiction superhero story,” we wrote in our review of Season 1. “In an age of global immigration it’s not difficult to see why this may have hit a nerve. [It] seems likely to be just as much a hit on our screens as it was Down Under.”

If all that sounds ambitious, you’re not the only one to think so: BBC Three snapped up the show last year, with it already renewed for a second season.

Now, Season 2 is on the way, with Episode 1 set to premiere on BBC iPlayer on Friday 4th August at 10am.

It picks after the events of the first season, as Koen (Hunter Page-Lochard) sets out to harness his powers in the hope of bringing all cultures together. His half-brother Waruu (Rob Collins) shares the same vision, but his method is far more dubious. For Koen to realize his mission, he must defeat Waruu and the full force of the Government, both which are united against him.

Still to catch up? The good news is that Season 1 of Cleverman is back on BBC iPlayer for binge-watching until 23rd September 2017.

Here’s a trailer for Season 2 – or head this way for our guide to what’s coming soon to BBC Three.

 

 

Cleverman to premiere this Sunday on BBC Three

3rd September 2016

Cleverman will premiere in the UK on Sunday 4th September on BBC Three.

The Australian dystopian drama was acquired by the online TV channel earlier this year. The six-episode series is set in the near-future and sees a species from ancient mythology living among humans and battling for survival in a world that wants to silence, exploit and destroy them.

At the heart of the story are two estranged brothers, Koen and Waruu West, who are forced together to fight against terrifying enemies, both human and not of this world. But can Koen, a man bestowed with a powerful gift and destined to become the ‘Cleverman’, learn to harness his power before everything around him crumbles?

The show is directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires) and Leah Purcell, with an ensemble cast that includes Frances O’Connor, Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires), Hunter Page-Lochard (The Sapphires), Rob Collins (The Lion King), Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games) and Iain Glen. The production also boasts creatures and effects from the Oscar-winning Weta Workshop.

The show is written by Michael Miller, Jon Bell and Jane Allen and based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen. It has already been renewed for a second season.

BBC Three has been keeping Cleverman’s UK air date under wraps since it acquired the show. Now, hot on the heels of the fantastic Fleabag’s finale, it’s all set to become BBC Three’s next big hitter. Episode 1 will premiere online through BBC iPlayer on Sunday 4th September at 10am, with episodes then arriving weekly every Sunday at the same time.

Read on for a trailer from the BBC Three Twitter account to give you a taste of what to expect – or head this way for our comprehensive guide to what’s coming soon to BBC Three this month.
 

*IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT* pic.twitter.com/YoF4wcpWXL

— BBC Three (@bbcthree) September 1, 2016

 

Photo: Red Arrow International/Sundance TV – Photographer: L. Tomasetti
 

Cleverman renewed for Season 2

8th June 2016

Dystopian drama Cleverman has been renewed for a second season.

The Australian series, which will premiere on BBC Three in the UK later this year, made its US debut last week – only for SundanceTV and Australia’s ABC to order a second run immediately after the first episode’s broadcast.

The series follows two indigenous brothers (Hunter Page-Lochard and Rob Collins) who are forced together to fight for survival as otherworldly creatures emerge. Iain Glen, of Game of Thrones fame, also stars in the show, alongside Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games).

The programme was snapped up by BBC Three for UK broadcast earlier this year (see below). While it has not yet been released here, the prospect of a second season will be good news for the online TV channel.

“The world that Ryan Griffen and the rest of the team behind Cleverman have created is a perfect blend of timeless mythology seen through the prism of a near future lens,” Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV, told Deadline. “This is a series that sophisticated genre fans will no doubt fall in love with.”

Production on the next six episodes will begin later this year in Sydney.

Directors Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell will return, with writers Stuart Page, Jane Allen, Jada Alberts, Justine Gillmer joining Ryan Griffen, who created the show.

For more on what’s coming soon to BBC Three, click here.

 

Cleverman: BBC Three lines up dystopian drama with Game of Thrones’ Iain Glen

19th May 2016

BBC Three will broadcast Cleverman, a new dystopian drama, later this year.

The channel has always made a point of offering a diverse slate of original content, a tradition that its online incarnation has continued – since its February launch, BBC Three has screened everything from a kidnapping thriller and documentaries about sex to gangster-themed sitcom and a drama about honour killing. Now, dystopia can be added to the line-up.

The six-episode Australian series is set in the near-future and sees a species from ancient mythology living among humans and battling for survival in a world that wants to silence, exploit and destroy them.

The show is written by Michael Miller, Jon Bell and Jane Allen and based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen.

Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition at the BBC, says: “Cleverman is an incredibly original and ambitious drama which is gripping from the very start.”

Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, adds that the programme will “definitely cause a stir”.

At the heart of the story are two estranged brothers, Koen and Waruu West, who are forced together to fight against terrifying enemies, both human and not of this world. But can Koen, a man bestowed with a powerful gift and destined to become the ‘Cleverman’, learn to harness his power before everything around him crumbles?

The show is directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires) and Leah Purcell, with Iain Glen joined by an ensemble cast that includes Frances O’Connor, Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires), Hunter Page-Lochard (The Sapphires), Rob Collins (The Lion King) and Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games).

The production also boasts creatures and effects from the Oscar-winning Weta Workshop, known for their work on The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, and is produced by Goalpost Pictures Australia and Pukeko Pictures New Zealand for ABC TV Australia in co-production with SundanceTV and Red Arrow International.

BBC Three acquired the show from Red Arrow International.

Henrik Pabst, Managing Director of the distributor, comments: “We are delighted that the BBC is the broadcaster to bring Cleverman to UK viewers. Cleverman is one of the biggest and most ambitious shows to come out of Australia, and speaks to a growing world audience unafraid of adventurous TV. BBC Three is a perfect fit for the show.”

For more on what’s coming soon to BBC Three, see our guide here.

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