‘Vikings’, ‘Raise by Wolves’ and ‘Dune: Prophecy’ star Travis Fimmel will reprise his role as troubled detective James Cormack in Season 3 of the Stan original ‘Black Snow’, which returns to Queensland for a new cold case and will begin filming in Cairns from April.
“Boy Swallows Universe” breakout actor Lee Tiger Halley and “Anzac Girls” star Caroline Craig join Fimmel and George Mason (“The Power of the Dog”) as Richie Cormac and Rose Riley (“Stateless”) as Jade. The cast also includes Samson Alston (Stan original “Year Of”).
AMC Networks will return as associate producer for North American rights, with All3Media International serving as international sales agent.
In addition to starring in season 3 of Black Snow, Fimmel will also serve as an executive producer and direct at least one episode, as he did in season 2, indicating that he has a significant personal investment in the series.
Season 1 was set in the South Islander community of Queensland, while Season 2 took place across the vast region all the way to the mighty Glass House Mountains. Boasting new mysteries, new supporting characters and a new setting, Season 3 moves to tropical Far North Queensland.
“Black Snow” has always been a personal series, with Cormac disheveled, moody, suffering from childhood trauma, and at the beginning of season 1 he asks a man in a pub to punch him in the face. However, the personal stakes are set to get even higher in season 3, when her estranged brother Richie goes on trial for the 1999 murder of his best friend Liam Knox. “Cormac will risk everything to solve the most difficult cold case of his career,” All3 Media International announced on Wednesday.
The new season of “Black Snow” will be directed by Fimmel, Daniel Nettheim (Stan’s “Assassins”) and Christian van Vuuren (“Top End Babs”).
News of season three of the six-part mystery thriller, once again produced by New South Wales’ Goalpost Pictures and produced by Lucas Taylor, who produced the first two seasons, comes as All3Media Intl. has announced a new deal for the series, led by France and Canal+, which acquired French-speaking crime platform Polar+.
Canal+ Luxembourg is licensed in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Public broadcasters VRT (Flemish Belgium), LNK (Lithuania), Media4Fun (Poland), Pickbox (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia), SIA Tet (Latvia) and Freedom Media (Kazakhstan) also have rights to both seasons. ABC acquired season 1 in a pan-regional deal for Asia.
In addition to previously announced deals, including Sweden’s TV4, Finland’s MTV OY, Spain’s Filmin, Netherlands’ NPO and Germany’s MagentaTV, “Black Snow” is now available in most major regions around the world.
“Black Snow” also received positive reviews from critics. “We’ll see the best of Travis Fimmel in Season 2 of Black Snow,” Katie Doll told CBR. “Let’s have more of these smart, solid Australian genre titles,” added The Age’s Craig Matheson.
“This new season promises to be another unforgettable and suspenseful mystery. We are grateful for the continued support of our valued partners including Screen Queensland, Screen NSW, All3 Media International and Sundance Now and look forward to sharing this sensational new season soon,” said Michael Healy, executive director of entertainment content commissioning at Nine Entertainment.
Goalpost Pictures Executive Producer Rosemary Bright added: “Creator Lucas Taylor and the writing team have created an interesting and moving story set in the stunning landscape of Far North Queensland. We are confident it will captivate audiences around the world.”
Screen Queensland CEO Jackie Feeney said the series’ “continued global success underlines the strong audience appetite for authentic Queensland screen stories and the state’s unique landscapes that are unique to ‘Black Snow'”. We look forward to hosting this production at Screen Queensland Studios in Cairns and the opportunities this series will bring to the Far North Queensland community. ”
Rachel Glaister, vice president of press and brand at All3Media International, commented, “‘Black Snow’ has proven to be a critical and commercial success. Fimmel’s performance is captivating and the plot is expertly crafted with emotional honesty and great intrigue.”
Goalpost Pictures executive producers Bright (Black Snow), Kylie Du Fresne (The Invisible Man) and Ben Grant (Top End Babu) will return to the series, along with executive producers Fimmel and Taylor.
Stan’s executive producers are Donna Chung and Andy Ryan. Taylor and Beatrix Christian return as screenwriters, with Millie Orlog producing and Rob Marsh (Deadlock) directing.
George Mason as Richie Cormac ‘Black Snow’ Season 2 Credit: KSCENNAR
