Romper Stomper Series Coming to Stan

The Australian streaming service Stan has greenlit a six-part drama that continues the story of the controversial feature film Romper Stomper, released 25 years ago.

Romper Stomper will pick up on the themes and story of Geoffrey Wright’s 1992 film, following a new generation of the activist Right, their Anti-Fascist counterparts, and the multicultural fabric of a country each of them threatens to tear apart. A high-stakes crime drama/political thriller, the series is produced by John Edwards (Love My Way, Tangle, Offspring) and Dan Edwards for Roadshow Rough Diamond with production investment from Stan and Screen Australia in association with Film Victoria. Wright himself conceived of the drama, which he will direct.

Jacqueline McKenzie (The Water Diviner, The 4400) and Dan Wyllie (Love My Way, Puberty Blues) will star in Romper Stomper, reprising their roles from the original film.

Edwards said: “Romper Stomper is a fantastic chance to break the mold of Australian drama—a contemporary thriller with competing tribes and different points of view battling for power. The series brings together some of our greatest character actors and wonderful new talents as well. Very exciting.”

Stan’s chief content officer, Nick Forward, said: “With such an extraordinary creative team, Romper Stomper will be unmissable television, as provocative now as the film was in 1992, examining at a personal level the hatred, fear, vengeance and politics hidden in plain sight all around us. Stan is privileged to bring Geoffrey’s prodigious talents to bear on a contemporary exploration of the themes his film tackled so brilliantly.”

Screen Australia’s head of production, Sally Caplan, said: “Few films cut to the core of the Australian national psyche like Romper Stomper did in 1992. With prolific producer John Edwards and original writer/director Geoffrey Wright at the helm, this timely and provocative story will be handled with exceptional creative vision that will be complemented by this fantastic Australian cast. We commend Stan on taking a risk with this story and are delighted to partner with them once again as they continue to expand their original local content offerings.”

Film Victoria’s CEO, Jenni Tosi, said: “In 1992 Film Victoria supported Geoffrey Wright as he set the Australian feature film world alight with his fearless debut feature Romper Stomper. Twenty five years later we are delighted that he is leading this reimagining of the original story along with the equally talented Victorian Director Daina Reid and being produced by John Edwards, Dan Edwards from Roadshow Rough Diamond.”