Queensland to Feature in Road Trip Mystery Series Starring Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi

Billed as a rollicking road trip with a mystery twist, Darby and Joan, commissioned by Acorn TV and starring Emmy® Award-nominated and Logie Award-winning Bryan Brown (Bloom, Cocktail, The Thorn Birds) and Emmy® Award-winning Greta Scacchi (Palm Beach, War & Peace, The Terror), will film in various locations throughout rural and regional Queensland, from majestic gorges and idyllic billabongs, to sweeping grass plains and historic country towns.

Supported by the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland's Screen Finance fund, the new series, produced by Australian production company CJZ, will see the rugged beauty and unique grandeur of Queensland streamed to millions via one of the world's leading streaming services Acorn TV in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Australia, Spain, Portugal, among others in 2022.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said production will commence this month.

"Darby and Joan will inject an estimated $6.6 million into the local economy and generate approximately 95 jobs for Queenslanders," the Premier said.

"My government's continued support of the screen industry in Queensland like this production and many others just like it is a critical part of Queensland's Economic Recovery Plan.

"In addition to the direct economic and jobs benefits, Darby and Joan will showcase regional and rural Queensland.

"We are a vast and varied state, with a huge geographic footprint and often unseen regional townships, and I'm proud that Queensland will star as a character in its own right in a series with such a strong global reach."

Screen Queensland Chief Creative Officer Jo Dillon said that Screen Queensland promotes the state as an ideal location for homegrown and international screen stories.

"For decades young and older travellers alike have been heeding the call of Australia as a place of discovery, renewal and freedom, and who better to star in this series as Darby than Bryan Brown, an Australian icon, alongside the talented Greta Scacchi playing English widow Joan.

"With Queensland as the odd couple's stunning backdrop, this part love story, part mystery adventure series is set to be hugely popular - not only in Australia but also around the world."

Matt Campbell, CEO of CJZ, said Queensland is the ultimate setting for this non-stop road adventure with a difference.

"We wanted scope, scale and variety, to capture a sense of awe and the stark beauty that comes from huge skies, vast horizons and roads less travelled; Queensland has all of this and more," Mr Campbell said.

"We can't wait to start filming next month and thank the Queensland Government and Screen Queensland for supporting this project."

Co-star Bryan Brown added, "Looking forward to working with Greta Scacchi on Darby and Joan. Terrific story and we get to show off beautiful Queensland. Fun all round."

Darby and Joan will be executive produced by Claire Tonkin (My Life is Murder), David Hannam (Secret Bridesmaid's Business), Matt Campbell, Bea Tammer and Catherine Mackin, with series producer Pino Amenta (Five Bedrooms, Wentworth). Created by Glenys Rowe and Phillip Gwynne, the series' writers include David Hannam, Beck Cole, Andrew Anastasios, Giula Sandler, Ainslie Clouston, Adam Zwar and Paul Bennett. Set-up director is David Caesar (Dirty Deeds).

Darby and Joan has received major production investment from Screen Australia.