Western Australia is set to become a hotbed of activity, with production beginning on crime drama series The Twelve Season 2, and Stan Original Series Invisible Boys being greenlit for production.

The Twelve Season 2 will be WA’s biggest ever production and will bring together one of the largest ensembles of any series produced in Australia, according to Screenwest.

Celebrated international actor Sam Neill (Jurassic Park, Peaky Blinders) reprises his role as Brett Colby, SC for the second series, and Frances O’Connor (The End, AI) is introduced as Meredith Nelson-Moore, SC. The series follows a controversial murder trial seen through the lens of the jurors – 12 ordinary Australians who are facing their own realities and struggles.

“On behalf of our incredible cast on The Twelve Season 2, I want to thank Rikki Lea Bestall and everyone at Screenwest along with the West Australian Government for their unwavering support and hospitality,” said Michael Brooks, Managing Director of Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia. “I also want to shine the spotlight on the hundreds of talented WA crew working tirelessly to make The Twelve Season 2 another premium, award-winning series.”

Read the full press release from Screenwest

‘Invisible Boys’ commissioned for production

Screenwest have also announced 10-part drama series, Invisible Boys has been greenlit for production, in a join statement with partners Screen Australia, Stan, and Banijay Rights.

Based on the book by multi-award-winning WA author Holden Sheppard, Invisible Boys explores the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal town of Geraldton, Western Australia after one of them is outed on social media following an encounter with a married man.

Stan commissioned the series following a Stan and Screenwest joint development initiative, designed to foster local talent and spark the development of new series in WA. The series is created and directed by Logie Award-winning creator Nicholas Verso (Crazy Fun Park, Boys In The Trees, Itch), working alongside an impressive writing team including Sheppard, Enoch Mailangi (All My Friends Are Racist, Year Of), Walkley Award-winning writer Allan Clarke (The Dark Emu Story) and Artistic Director of Griffin Theatre, Declan Greene and is produced by Verso and Tania Chambers (How to Please a Woman, Kill Me Three Times).

“Screenwest is beyond excited to see local production company Feisty Dame secure a Stan Original Series based on a homegrown West Australian story!” said Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall. “We look forward to seeing Invisible Boys move into production in the Mid-West in the near future.”

Production of Invisible Boys will take place in Geraldton and Perth, Western Australia.

Read the full press release from Screenwest

Featured artwork courtesy Screewest and Foxtel (left to right)