16 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Paramount Announce New Murder Mystery, Playing Gracie Darling
Paramount Australia, Screen Australia and Screen NSW have announced the commission of Paramount Original drama series, Playing Gracie Darling, a six-hour scripted drama produced by Curio Pictures. Sony Pictures Television is distributing the series internationally.
Created and written by Miranda Nation (Undertow) and directed by Jonathan Brough (Rosehaven, The End), Playing Gracie Darling stars Morgana O'Reilly (The White Lotus Season Three, Friends Like Her) playing Joni, and features an ensemble cast of notable names, including Rudi Dharmalingam (Wakefield, Great Expectations) playing Jay, Celia Pacquola (Rosehaven, Love Me) playing Ruth, Annie Maynard who plays Anita (Upper Middle Bogan, Colin From Accounts) and Anne Tenney (The Castle, A Country Practice) playing Moira, with more announcements to follow.
Playing Gracie Darling is executive produced by Curio's Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner, Sophia Mogford for Paramount and Miranda Nation. Laura Nagy is on board as associate producer and additional scripts are written by Anya Beyersdorf (FAKE).
When Joni was 14, her best friend Gracie Darling disappeared during a s ance and hasn't been seen since. Twenty-seven years on, the local kids in a small town get their kicks with a game of Playing Gracie Darling' but the seemingly innocent game turns sinister when another girl disappears.
Joni, now a child psychologist, returns to the town where her best friend Gracie mysteriously disappeared to confront her deep fear of the unknown and find out what really happened to Gracie that fateful night. Local sergeant Jay will partner with Joni to uncover the truth, while Gracie's sister Ruth faces a mother's worst nightmare when her own daughter vanishes under hauntingly similar circumstances. Moira, Ruth's mother, clings to faith as she faces her own worst fears.
Grainne Brunsdon, Screen Australia COO said, Playing Gracie Darling offers a fresh take on the supernatural mystery genre that is sure to captivate audiences both in Australia and abroad. With a strong, award-winning team at Curio and compelling scripts from Miranda Nation and Anya Beyersdorf, this series promises to be a must-watch on Paramount .
Actor Morgana O'Reilly who plays Joni said, I m beyond thrilled to be a part of this series. I devoured the scripts in one sitting. Joni is a complex, paradoxical woman haunted by ghosts of past and present. I m especially drawn to the relationship between her and her teenage daughter. I know how triggering motherhood can be; when you think you have something well hidden, your kids know how to dig it up. So many skeletons. I can t wait to get stuck into this character and her world.
Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner, Executive Producers of Curio Pictures said, Miranda Nation captured our imagination with her brilliant story ignited by the idea of a s ance gone wrong. Playing Gracie Darling is a unique genre mash of mystery thriller, family drama and coming of age, and this project has continued to draw people to its provocative and propulsive characters with universal themes at its heart. We couldn't be prouder of the creative team that is forming around it, led by Miranda Nation and Director Jonathan Brough, and our brilliant cast.
Kyas Hepworth, Head of Screen NSW said, Miranda Nation has expertly blended the supernatural, coming of age and crime thriller genres, and with executive producers Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner from Curio Pictures on board, Playing Gracie Darling is sure to be an engrossing and enthralling drama. I'm excited to welcome this project to NSW, with the series creating many fulltime jobs for local cast and crew in the state when it begins shooting in Sydney and regional areas.
Daniel Monaghan, SVP Content & Programming, Paramount Australia said, We are thrilled to bring audiences this premium female-led crime thriller. Morgana O'Reilly is a star on the rise. We are so fortunate to have secured her for the lead role along with one of the most impressive ensemble casts this series could have hoped for.
Production credit: Playing Gracie Darling is a Curio Pictures production for Paramount . Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Paramount Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW's Made in NSW Fund. Local distribution by Paramount Australia. International Sales by Sony Pictures Television. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW.
Playing Gracie Darling is coming to Paramount in 2025.
PARAMOUNT MEDIA ENQUIRIES Rachel Martin | National Publicist
[email protected]
Paula Lucarelli | Head of Publicity
[email protected]
Anthony McCarthy| Head of Publicity
[email protected]
Media enquiries Maddie Walsh | Publicist
61 2 8113 5915 | [email protected]
Jessica Parry | Senior Publicist (Mon, Tue, Thu)
61 428 767 836 | [email protected]
All other general/non-media enquiries
Sydney 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
30/06/2025
SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel
30 June, 2025
Media releases
SBS is expanding its international news offeri...
27/06/2025
27 06 2025 - Media release Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong
Marton Csokas and Lila McGuire of Goolagong. Image c...
26/06/2025
Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On De...
20/06/2025
Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Au...
13/06/2025
Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic spor...
12/06/2025
50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celeb...
06/06/2025
06 06 2025 - Media release Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwri...
03/06/2025
Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Origin...
28/05/2025
SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia
28 May, 2025
Media releases
Marking 50 years of broadcasting on 9 June 2025, SBS...
28/05/2025
ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transf...
22/05/2025
SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with ...
22/05/2025
Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast
22 May, 2025
Media releases
Ever caught yourself using baby talk with your pet and wondered ...
19/05/2025
Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 m...
16/05/2025
Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced
16 May, 2025
Media releases
Screen Australia's First Nations Department, the Australian Broadcasting Cor...
15/05/2025
Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There...
15/05/2025
We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS
15 May, 2025
Media releases
The We Go There Hub brings together over 300 ti...
14/05/2025
ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe,...
13/05/2025
Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion
13 May, 2025
Media releases
As the latest season nears its end, SBS's hit series brings full cast together for re...
13/05/2025
Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle...
12/05/2025
And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS,...
12/05/2025
10 05 2025 - Media release Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directin...
07/05/2025
SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recogni...
07/05/2025
SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location
7 May, 2025
Media releases
SBS has today launched a Request for Expressions of Intere...
02/05/2025
SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Hand...
01/05/2025
01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives
All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...
30/04/2025
Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award
30 April, 2025
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Huda Fadlelmawla...
30/04/2025
SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives
30 April, 2025
Media releases
SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and ...
23/04/2025
We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it ...
22/04/2025
McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championshi...
16/04/2025
Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Susta...
15/04/2025
Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lif...
15/04/2025
SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Champions...
14/04/2025
SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduc...
11/04/2025
Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo to...
09/04/2025
SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering
9 April, 2025
Media releases
SBS is expanding its international news offering with the...
09/04/2025
SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as E...
09/04/2025
09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase
Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...
07/04/2025
Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS comme...
07/04/2025
Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election ye...
07/04/2025
SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key is...
04/04/2025
SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and infor...
01/04/2025
01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June
Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...
31/03/2025
Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new politica...
28/03/2025
Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and fam...
28/03/2025
SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages
28 March, 2025
Media releases
As Australia heads to the polls on 3 May, Australia...
26/03/2025
The Secret DNA of Us premieres 17 April
20 March, 2025
Media releases
Family secrets, royal relationships and hidden histories revealed What would you disc...
24/03/2025
ABS further Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Matthieu Boutrolle a...
19/03/2025
NITV and Cricket Australia elevate First Nations sport with National Indigenous ...
19/03/2025
Yumi Stynes wants older women to be SEEN' as SBS podcast returns
19 March, 2025
Media releases
Feminist icon Yumi Stynes shines a spotlight on trailbl...
16 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Paramount Announce New Murder Mystery, Playing Gracie Darling 
