L to R: Director Emma Freeman, Executive Producer Melinda Wearne, actors Teresa Palmer and Bella Heathcote, author Sally Hepworth, Series Creator Sarah Scheller and Series Producer Dean O'Toole on the set of The Family Next Door.
The new Beyond Entertainment and Muse Entertainment co-production, The Family Next Door, for the ABC is a 6-part drama filming on location in and around Melbourne's bayside suburbs, as well as regional Victoria, including Anglesea, showcasing Victoria's stunning coastline.
The Family Next Door boasts a stellar cast including AACTA nominated Teresa Palmer (The Clearing, The Fall Guy), Bella Heathcote (The Moogai, Pieces of Her), Philippa Northeast (Territory, The Newsreader), Bob Morley (The 100, In Limbo), Catherine McClements (Return to Paradise, Total Control), Jane Harber (Offspring, In Limbo) and Ming-Zhu Hii (Prosper, La Brea).
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by beloved Victorian author, Sally Hepworth, The Family Next Door follows a stranger as she arrives in a quiet Victorian beachside cul-de-sac searching for answers, her drive to solve a mystery casts suspicion on four neighbouring families.
Created for television by Sarah Scheller (Strife, The Letdown), The Family Next Door is directed by Emma Freeman (The Newsreader, Interview with the Vampire) produced by Melinda Wearne with Dean O'Toole (The Great) with Executive Producers David Ogilvy, Jenny O'Shea, Joel Rice and Meghan Mathes Jacobs, and ABC Executive Producers Rachel Okine and Rebecca Anderson. The series is written by Sarah Scheller, Pip Karmel (Total Control), Julia Moriarty (Total Control) and Andrew Anastasios (Troppo).
The Family Next Door will create more than 275 jobs for Victorian screen industry workers and inject over $9.7million into the Victorian economy including 175 crew, 13 Head of Department roles and 130 cast and two placement opportunities that will upskill emerging female screen practitioners.
With major production investment from Screen Australia and the ABC, and developed and produced in association with VicScreen, The Family Next Door will be distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus and and will screen on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2025.
The Family Next Door was attracted to Victoria through the Victorian Government's Victorian Screen Incentive.
Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said,
"The screen adaptation of Sally Hepworth's international bestseller has been secured in its rightful home – Victoria, taking full advantage of our stunning coastal locations and world-class crews. We are proud to back this Australian story, which is creating jobs for Victorian screen industry workers, providing a multi-million-dollar boost for our economy and is set to delight audiences here and abroad."
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said,
"We are delighted to support the screen adaptation of The Family Next Door, by New York Times bestselling Victorian author Sally Hepworth. With some of Australia's most exciting talent in front of and behind the camera including writer Sarah Scheller, director Emma Freeman, and Victoria's stunning coastal locations as a backdrop to the riveting drama. This enthralling series is yet another VicScreen-supported production that will showcase our local screen industry to global audiences".
Sarah Scheller, showrunner of The Family Next Door said,
"I am thrilled to be in Sally Hepworth's Melbourne for The Family Next Door. It's a joy to watch our characters come to life under the tender direction of Emma Freeman. Shooting in Melbourne is a dream, from our excellent crew, stunning locations to possibly the best coffee in the world."
Beyond Entertainment's Melinda Wearne, producer of The Family Next Door said,
"It is an honour to be bringing Sally Hepworth's celebrated novel to the screen, and to be not only filming in the State where it is set but showcasing to the world the spectacular Victorian coastline."
