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First look, cast and release date announced for SA made Netflix series Territory
18 July 2024
A billion-dollar industry, a fierce succession war, a family at odds: explosive drama Territory has everything you need for a juicy new watch – and it premieres on 24 October, 2024, Netflix has announced today.
Formerly titled Desert King, Territory is the biggest Netflix series ever to be filmed in South Australia, with both production and post-production taking place in the state, supported by the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC). It also filmed in the Northern Territory, with support from the Northern Territory Government.
The upcoming neo-western series follows a fight for power in the remote and unforgiving Australian outback, in an epic and dangerous battle for land, and legacy. When the world’s largest cattle station, Marianne Station, is left without a clear successor, generational clashes threaten to tear the Lawson family apart. Sensing this once-great dynasty is in decline, the outback’s most powerful factions — rival cattle barons, desert gangsters, Indigenous elders and billionaire miners — move in for the kill. With billions of dollars at stake, everyone wants a piece of the pie.
The star-studded cast includes:
- Anna Torv (The Newsreader, The Last of Us) as Emily Lawson
- Michael Dorman (For All Mankind, Patriot) as Graham Lawson
- Robert Taylor (Longmire, The Newsreader) as Colin Lawson
- Sam Corlett (Vikings: Valhalla, The Dry) as Marshall Lawson
- Sara Wiseman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, High Country) as Sandra Kirby
- Dan Wyllie (Love My Way, The Veil) as Hank Hodge
- Clarence Ryan (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Mystery Road Origin) as Nolan Brannock
- Jay Ryan (IT Chapter Two, Scrublands) as Campbell Miller
- Philippa Northeast (The Newsreader, Limbo) as Susie Lawson
- Joe Klocek (My Lady Jane, The Dry) as Lachie Kirby
- Kylah Day (Scrublands, Itch) as Sharnie Kennedy
- Sam Delich (Spiderhead, Last Days of Space Age ) as Rich Petrakis
- Hamilton Morris (Sweet Country) as Uncle Bryce
- Tuuli Narkle (Mystery Road: Origin, NCIS: Sydney) as Keeley Redford
- Tyler Spencer (The New Boy) as Dezi
- Jake Ryan (The Great Gatsby, Life After Fighting) as Daniel Lawson
Michael Dormam and Anna Torv, image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix). 
Hamilton Morris, Tyler Spencer and Clarence Ryan, image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix). 
Kylah Day and Sam Corlett, image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix). 
Anna Torv, image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix). 
Anna Torv and Philippa Northeast, image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix). 
Hamilton Morris and Robert Taylor, image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix). 
Image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix). 
Philippa Northeast and Anna Torv, image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix). 
Robert Taylor, image courtesy of Alecia Vagulans (Netflix).
Territory is a joint production between Easy Tiger and Ronde, created by Timothy Lee (Mystery Road, Bump) and Ben Davies (Bondi Rescue, The First Inventors, Outback Ringer) and produced by South Australian producer Paul Ranford (Stateless, True History of the Kelly Gang). Executive producers are Davies, Rob Gibson (The Twelve, Colin from Accounts), and Ian Collie (Jack Irish, Scrublands). It is written by Lee, Kodie Bedford, Steven McGregor, and Michaeley O’Brien and directed by Greg McLean (La Brea, Wolf Creek).
The series began production in South Australia last year, supported by the SAFC’s Screen Production Fund and SA PDV Rebate, with crews utilising the SAFC’s Adelaide Studios facilities and filming out on location.
Minister for the Arts Andrea Michaels MP said at the time: “Desert King is the biggest Netflix series ever to be filmed in South Australia and it sounds like it going to be a thrilling drama that is sure to captivate audiences around the world. The six-part series is not only being filmed in South Australia, but post-production work will be taking place here too, creating even more jobs for our talented screen sector. Attracting major international streaming platforms like Netflix to South Australia speaks volumes about the remarkable skill and creativity of our Adelaide Studios. The Malinauskas Government will continue to invest in and support our world-class screen industry to tell Australian stories to the world.”
SAFC CEO Kate Croser said at the time: “This major new series is the latest exciting example of the fruitful screen production alliance that exists between South Australia and Northern Territory, where the SAFC’s flexible Adelaide Studios production facilities, coupled with South Australia’s world-class crews and PDV providers, provides the perfect base for productions filming at locations across both regions. The SAFC is proud to support this exciting new series which will utilise a majority South Australian crew comprising post-production services and key creatives, including top South Australian producer Paul Ranford, and which will once again provide a showcase for our state’s screen production capability and talent.”
Territory will be released globally on Netflix on 24 October, 2024 as part of Netflix’s growing local slate of Australian productions. It follows on from a string of South Australian made and SAFC supported productions including animated series Eddie’s Lil’ Homies, thriller Run Rabbit Run starring Sarah Snook, drama series Stateless starring Cate Blanchett, and children’s series Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance and MaveriX.