Two new SBS Original Dramas to dominate screens in 2024
Media release
SBS commissions new intoxicating romance Four Years Cast revealed for the deliciously dysfunctional family crime drama
Swift Street led by Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Tanzyn Crawford (Tiny Beautiful Things)
At today's SBS Upfronts 2024, SBS and Screen Australia, in association with Screen NSW and ITV Studios are thrilled to announce the commission of a new eight-part Australian drama for 2024 - Four Years, alongside unveiling the cast of the dysfunctional family crime drama, Swift Street led by Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Tanzyn Crawford (Tiny Beautiful Things).
Continuing SBS's streak of original and dynamic dramas, Four Years is a story of two people trying to find each other again after being separated for four years. In the spirit of Normal People, the series examines intimacy, desire, in amongst the power dynamics of a relationship.
Achingly powerful, Four Years follows the turbulent marriage of two young Indian lovers, Sridevi and Yash, through two timelines, two worlds, told through dual perspectives. Full of romance and the yearning to find someone you once loved again, in amongst the turmoils and challenges of life, this ground-breaking Australian series uses the Hindi and English languages interchangeably.
Production of the eight-part series will commence in Mumbai and Jaipur, India and Sydney NSW early next year. Four Years is created by Mithila Gupta (Five Bedrooms, Bump) and features a writing team all with South Asian heritage: Mithila, Nicole Reddy and S. Shakthidharan and will be directed by Mohini Herse (the SBS Digital Original Appetite) and Fadia Abboud (Year Of, Five Bedrooms). It will be produced by award-winning Easy Tiger Productions (Colin From Accounts, The Twelve) for SBS. Major production investment from Screen Australia and Screen NSW in association with SBS.
Also announced at today's event, SBS unveiled the stellar cast of the fresh high-paced eight-part drama series, Swift Street, as part of SBS's bold drama offering in 2024.
Internationally acclaimed actor Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) and rising star Tanzyn Crawford (Tiny Beautiful Things) lead the cast as dysfunctional father-daughter duo Robert and Elsie, who become partners in crime against the backdrop of bustling inner-city Melbourne.
Created and directed by incredible new talent Tig Terera (Tinash , Chenge), the series is fast, fun, and cinematic. It's a wildly entertaining and unapologetic story that's full of heart.
Curtis has an extraordinary body of work in both features and television series that have reached cult status in Australia, New Zealand, and across the globe, including smash-hit films such as Avatar: The Way of Water, Traffic, Fear The Living Dead, The Insider, Fast and the Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, The Dark Horse, Training Day, Whale Rider and more. Crawford's impressive credits include M. Night Shyamalan's series Servant, followed by her break-out role as Kathryn Hahn's daughter in Tiny Beautiful Things.
They are joined by a dynamic cast including Keiynan Lonsdale (Love, Simon, The Divergent Series: Insurgent), Eliza Matengu (Thor: Love and Thunder, Jack Irish), Bernie Van Tiel (Class of 07, and SBS drama anthology Erotic Stories) and introducing new talent Alfred Chuol in his first major television role.
Swift Street follows 21-year-old street smart and spiritually Afro-punk Elsie (Crawford) who teams up with her jaded old-school hustler father, Robert (Curtis) to get him out of debt and save him from a merciless crime boss (Matengu) who wants her money NOW. The pair embark on a series of hectic scrapes and near misses, as Elsie commits to help Robert hustle for the money. But with an unhinged gang of debt collectors on their trail, the duo must carry out a series of increasingly serious crimes against a ticking clock while fumbling through their dysfunctional relationship.
Supporting cast includes Blessing Mokgohloa, Ann Truong, Bolude Watson, Arthur Giamalidis, Arthur Angel, Elias Anton, Catherine Saun, Sepideh Kian, Jediah Vakacavu, Rahma Soliman, Ben Sofowora, Halli Okello, Amarachi Logo, Michael Logo, Alex Pinder and Miles Paras.
Producers are Magpie Pictures' founder Lois Randall (Black Snow, Seriously Red, Grace Beside Me) who is also Executive Producer alongside Cliff Curtis, and Ivy Mak (Sydney Sleuthers).
Swift Street is a Magpie Pictures production for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS. Financed in association with VicScreen and Screen NSW. Global film and television studio Fifth Season (formerly Endeavour Content) is handling international sales of this project.
SBS Head of Scripted, Julie Eckersley said: Both Swift St and Four Years represent an exciting new wave of Australian television. They bring fresh and exciting voices and talent into the mainstream. They are entertaining and full of heart and visually bold and distinct. There has never been such an exciting time for Australian television, and we are thrilled at SBS to be at the forefront of it.
Screen Australia's Head of Content, Grainne Brunsdon said: 2024 is set to be an exciting year for Australian television. With the arrival of these new vibrant and refreshing drama series, Four Years and Swift Street, audiences will be captivated by these two compelling narratives that authentically mirror modern Australia. Through a unique exploration of love and an edgy crime-drama, we're delighted to partner with SBS to bring this amazing talent to the screen paving the way for greater inclusivity both behind and in front of the camera.
Producers Ian Collie and Rob Gibson of Easy Tiger Productions said: We are so excited to be working with SBS again (previous dramas include the award-winning
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
11/05/2026
You're not meant to look at an Eclipse, but you won't be able to take yo...
04/05/2026
It's Andrew! stomps onto screens this June 4 May 2026
The ABC and Screen Australia are delighted to announce that brand new preschool series, It's Andr...
30/04/2026
SBS & NITV LEAD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2026 WITH LANDMARK GULPILIL DOCUMEN...
29/04/2026
Surgeon Dr Jasmina Kevric wins 2026 Les Murray Award
29 April, 2026
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Dr Jasmina Kevric...
23/04/2026
Apply now to join the 2026 Producer Delegation to TIFF: The Market 23 April 2026
Screen Australia, in partnership with Ontario Creates, has opened application...
22/04/2026
SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge
22 April, 2026
Media releases
National broadcaster also releases its second annual...
21/04/2026
Applications open for 2026 AISF and Screen Australia Writer/Director Virtual Ses...
20/04/2026
Register now - Market & Audience Department Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 11 February 2026
Screen Australia Head of Market & Audience Rakel Tansley
Talking to...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces funding for 44 documentary projects that reflect a s...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia appoints Tanya Phegan as Narrative Content Head of Development 17 March 2026
Tanya Phegan
Screen Australia has today announced the appointmen...
20/04/2026
Applications Open for Skip Ahead 11 19 March 2026
Past Skip Ahead recipients (L-R): Macfarlane Bros, Rainbow Bop, Lyanna Kea.
Screen Australia and YouTube Aus...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia empowers the next games generation, including new creatives fro...
20/04/2026
Official Co-production Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 26 March 2026
Image (L-R): Mix Tape, Michele McDonald, Flower & Flour.
Interested in international Co-pro...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces Narrative Content funding for 91 projects, including ...
20/04/2026
Production Infrastructure and Capacity Analysis (PICA) pinpoints four key workfo...
20/04/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia Announce the 2026 Participants in the T...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia relaunches website with new tools and improved user experience 16 April 2026
Screen Australia relaunches website
Screen Australia has relaun...
16/04/2026
SBS reveals all-star alumni team to celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Co...
02/04/2026
SBS Welcomes Back Cup Fever! For The Biggest FIFA World Cup Ever
2 April, 2026
Media releases
Santo Cilauro, Ed Kavalee and a host of special guests retur...
02/04/2026
Truth. Power. Perspective: NITV's Flagship Current Affairs Programs Return t...
27/03/2026
NITV to broadcast farewell to Rhoda Roberts AO with special coverage and week-lo...
21/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnect highlights how we all deserve t...
21/03/2026
Statement regarding Rhoda Roberts AO
21 March, 2026
Media releases
SBS is deeply saddened by the passing of Widjabul Wieybal woman from the Bundjalung Na...
20/03/2026
Feast for cycling fans as SBS extends road cycling broadcasts to include all Gra...
19/03/2026
Silicon Valley satire The Audacity premieres 15 April on SBS and SBS On Demand
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From one of the writer/producers of Succession...
19/03/2026
SBS brings communities together at Bondi Pavilion for Harmony Week multilingual ...
19/03/2026
Clarification from SBS regarding Western Sydney expansion
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From an SBS spokesperson:
SBS wishes to clarify some media coverag...
19/03/2026
Techtel announces inctrl : web-based production control for content creators, co...
18/03/2026
Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture
18 March, 2026
Media releases
New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...
17/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnnect highlights how we all deserve ...
12/03/2026
AFL and NITV partner to launch new First Nations led program Inside the Huddle&...
06/03/2026
Statement on the appointment of Dr Nicholas Pappas AM as SBS Chair
6 March, 2026
Media releases
The SBS Board and Executive have welcomed the appointment o...
05/03/2026
SBS and Mint Pictures to chronicle the Bondi terror attack in major feature docu...
05/03/2026
Winter Olympic stars return to the ice for ISU World Figure Skating Championship...
04/03/2026
100 Days to Go: SBS Unveils World Class Team for The Greatest Show on Earth -The...
02/03/2026
Global powerhouse Delta Goodrem to represent Australia at this year's Eurovi...
02/03/2026
SBS brings together prominent voices to discuss rising social division and seek ...
02/03/2026
NITV Unveils Wednesday Night Sport Night
2 March, 2026
Media releases
A Midweek Hub for Blak Sport
Flagship NRL program Over The Black Dot moves to Wednes...
02/03/2026
Ausfilm and Screen Australia launch joint UK market initiative 2 March 2026
Ausfilm and Screen Australia have announced Partner with Australia (UK), a new init...
27/02/2026
Screen Australia announces Rachel Perkins as Director of First Nations Strategy 27 February 2026
Screen Australia has today announced the appointment of Rachel...
18/02/2026
SBS brings Australians together to mark Ramadan and Eid with communities nationw...
16/02/2026
SBS's Powerhouse Current Affairs Line-up is Back with the Conversations and ...
12/02/2026
Our Medicine S2: Frontline Medicine Through A Blak Lens
12 February, 2026
Media releases
A Bigger, Bolder Second Series showcasing First Nations Frontline ...
11/02/2026
ABS Strengthens Ku-Band Capacity and Expands Regional Reach Through Strategic Pa...
10/02/2026
World-first opt-out function now fully integrated on SBS On Demand
10 February, 2026
Media releases
SBS has announced a suite of audience-first enhancement...
09/02/2026
SBS Media Sustainability Challenge returns for 2026
9 February, 2026
Media releases
The challenge offers brands and agencies $500,000 in advertising invent...
04/02/2026
Queer Renegades: SBS Audio's new podcast reclaiming Australia's queer hi...
03/02/2026
The smash-hit series The Hospital: In the Deep End returns to shine a spotlight ...
Two new SBS Original Dramas to dominate screens in 2024 
