Stan Original comedic crime thriller series ‘Population 11’ starring Ben Feldman set to premiere on 14 March
Population 11 is a Stan Original Series produced by Jungle Entertainment in association with Factor 30 Films, with major production investment from Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund and international sales by Lionsgate.
Population 11 is a Stan Original Series produced by Jungle Entertainment in association with Factor 30 Films, with major production investment from Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund and international sales by Lionsgate.
Screenwest is pleased to announce Population 11, a comedic crime thriller series starring Ben Feldman (Superstore, Mad Men [Emmy® nominee], Silicon Valley) and filmed in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, is set to premiere on Stan on 14 March.
Population 11 is Jungle Entertainment’s first production in WA and one of the first Stan Originals produced in the state, alongside the upcoming Invisible Boys, with both series being supported by Screenwest, Lotterywest and the WA Regional Screen Fund (WARSF).
Inspired by true events, Population 11 is a 12-part series about a man, Hugo who goes missing from a tiny outback town of only 12 residents, and his estranged son, who journeys from the US to find him.
When Andy Pruden (Ben Feldman), a suburban bank teller from Ohio USA, pulls into the tiny outback town to visit his long-lost father, he’s alarmed to discover that Hugo has vanished. In his quest to find him, another outsider Cassie (Perry Mooney) comes to Andy’s aid and they find themselves in increasing danger as they delve into the secrets of this tiny outback town, where everyone is a suspect.
Filming took place in Derby and the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with a slew of Western Australian talent collaborating with Jungle Entertainment including WA producer Melissa Kelly (Upright, Hounds of Love) who produced the series alongside Jungle’s Bridget Callow-Wright (No Activity: The Night Before Christmas), WA director Ben Young (Hounds of Love, The Twelve) who directed four episodes and WA writer Zoe Pepper (Birthright, The Big Spaghetti) who wrote Episode 9.
Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO said, “Stan, Lionsgate and Jungle Entertainment have incredible track records, and we’re thrilled to have welcomed them to Western Australia with this exciting and prestigious project. We are so pleased to see WA producer Melissa Kelly collaborating with Jungle to produce Population 11 – one of the first Stan Original Series to film in WA, alongside the upcoming Invisible Boys, continuing the production boom in our State. We look forward to seeing Population 11 showcase both our dramatic Kimberley region and our talented local crew and creatives when it premieres on Stan in March.”
The series creator and showrunner is AACTA Award-winner Phil Lloyd (The Moodys, Review With Myles Barlow). Trent O’Donnell (Stan Original Series No Activity, New Girl) and Helena Brookes (Gold Diggers) also directed four episodes each. Executive Produced by Phil Lloyd, Trent O’Donnell, Chloe Rickard and Jason Burrows (Stan Original Series No Activity, Wakefield).
The impressive ensemble cast also includes Katrina Milosevic, Darren Gilshenan, Chai Hansen, Stephen Curry, Tony Briggs, Genevieve Lemon, Rick Donald and Western Australian actors Pippa Grandison and Steve Le Marquand.
WARSF is designed to attract screen projects to undertake production in regional Western Australia to encourage regional film industry activity, build local capacity and contribute to the liveability and vibrancy of regional WA communities.
Population 11 will join the ranks of other high-profile WARSF productions such as Sweet As, Blueback and Mystery Road: Origin, plus popular documentaries Ningaloo Nyinggulu, Aussie Gold Hunters and Shipwreck Hunters Australia, as well as the upcoming Invisible Boys, filming in Geraldton and We Bury the Dead, filming in the Great Southern, taking advantage of the stunning landscapes that WA offers.
Jungle Entertainment Partner and EP Jason Burrows said, “Phil’s eighth original series is set to be a really fun jam-packed ride, both as a thriller and as a comedy. It will be the first Australian series that he and Trent have collaborated on since The Moodys, and together with the all-star writing team and our partners Lionsgate, Stan, Screenwest and Screen NSW, it has all the ingredients for a breakout Australian drama. This will be Jungle’s first show in WA, and we are delighted with the world we have created there with WA creatives, crews and collaborators.”
Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie said, “Following the success of the Stan Original Series Prosper, Stan’s partnership with the prestigious Hollywood studio Lionsgate delivers yet another Stan Original Series as part of our ongoing strategy to deliver fresh and exceptional Originals for Australian and global audiences. Population 11, with Ben Feldman alongside an all-star Australian cast, is an absurd comedy thriller with performances as captivating as the Western Australian landscape, and we can’t wait to share this series.”
All episodes of Population 11 will premiere on Stan on 14 March 2024.
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