Baz Luhrmann Expending His Film “Australia” Into Limited Series “Faraway Downs”

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in "Australia" (2008)

Baz Luhrmann is receiving rave reviews for his latest film Elvis, and he’s already set his eyes on another exciting project. He’s working with Hulu on a six-part limited-series Faraway Downs, which is basically an extended cut of his 2008 film Australia.

The original film starred Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and it was Luhrmann’s epic love letter to his home country. It followed the journey of an Englishwoman who inherits a sprawling cattle ranch from her late husband and joins forces with a local cattle drover to protect the ranch from the Australian cattle barons.

Faraway Downs will include the footage that was captured while the original Australia was being filmed, but the expanded, serialized version will also feature a new ending and an updated soundtrack.

“While Australia the film has its own life, there was another telling of this story; one with different layers, nuances and even alternative plot twists that an episodic format has allowed us to explore. Drawn from the same material, Faraway Downs is a new variation on Australia for audiences to discover,” said Luhrmann in a statement.

Hulu will release the series in the US, while Disney+ and Star+ are expected to handle international markets this winter.