The Killings: Parrish Station in Production for Stan

HELIUM Pictures has begun production on The Killings: Parrish Station for Stan, with ITV Studios on board as international distributor.

Created and written by Ben Jenkins (The Chaser, The Checkout), the series is directed by Daniel Nettheim (The Tourist, The Assassin). It is supported by Screen Australia and Screen NSW. Mia Wasikowska (FING!, Alice in Wonderland) stars in the lead role.

In the series, in 1987, Detective Georgia Cooke is called in to investigate the massacre of four scientists who were brutally murdered in inexplicable ways, with a lone survivor becoming the obvious suspect. As Georgia investigates, a complex case entangled in mania, ritual and the occult is unraveled. Thirty-seven years later, a new spree of murders pulls Georgia back into the nightmare.

Alongside Wasikowska, the cast includes Heather Mitchell (The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Love Me, Fake), Xavier Samuel (Blonde, Elvis), Robert Taylor (Longmire, Scrublands), Alan Dale (The Assassin, Star Trek: Nemesis, Dynasty), Emma Lung (Wolf Like Me, Strife), Doris Younane (Five Bedrooms, Last King of the Cross), Kat Hoyos (Amazing Grace, Here Come The Habibs!), Nic English (Ten Pound Poms), Alex Malone (The Royal Hotel), Geoff Morrell (Thou Shalt Not Steal, Wolf Like Me), Rob Carlton (Black Snow, Chandon Pictures), Alex Lee (Optics, The Fall Guy), Cameron James (The Role of a Lifetime) and newcomer Grace Owens.

Jenkins writes the series alongside writer and story producer Tim Pye (Bali 2002) and writers Yolanda Ramke (Cargo) and Catherine Smyth-McMullen (The Sandman, The Other Lamb).

Executive producers include HELIUM’s Mark Fennessy (Last King of the Cross, Lambs of God) and Stan’s Donna Chang and Andy Ryan.

“The Killings: Parrish Station is a striking addition to the Stan originals slate, a bold and distinctive series that pushes the boundaries of Australian drama,” said Michael Healy, executive director of entertainment content commissioning at Nine Entertainment. “It is a testament to creative storytelling at its best, led by the visionary creator Ben Jenkins, who has masterfully woven together a cosmic horror–meets–cold case tale. The series captures the very essence of creative edge and originality that defines Stan’s commitment to groundbreaking content and marks our first collaboration with HELIUM, whose creative vision has been invaluable in bringing this project to life.”

“We’re incredibly proud of this haunting and deeply human story—a gripping, time-spanning thriller with compelling female leads told across two timelines with the scale and suspense of True Detective and the bite of Yellowjackets,” commented Fennessy. “Set against the vast emptiness of the Outback, it’s a tale about what we bury, what we choose to forget and what refuses to stay hidden.”

Julie Meldal-Johnsen, executive VP of global content at ITV Studios, said, “We’re delighted to bring the thrilling and evocative The Killings: Parrish Station to international audiences, working with our partners at HELIUM and Stan. The scripts are some of the finest we have read—smart, shocking and suspenseful with raw human emotion—and are now brought to life by an acclaimed cast and crew.”

“Known for his comedy podcasting, creator Ben Jenkins demonstrates his versatility as a storyteller with his first foray into television drama,” noted Louise Gough, director of narrative content at Screen Australia. “Together with the experienced team at HELIUM Pictures, they’ve crafted a clever supernatural mystery that is genuinely propulsive and inherently bingeable. With a tremendous cast, lovers of cold case crime stories will be drawn into this world of intrigue and quest for the truth. I can’t wait for audiences to unravel the mystery for themselves.”

Kyas Hepworth, head of Screen NSW, added, “Ben Jenkins has created a completely original and unique story, and with the wealth of experience and standout creative talent from the team at HELIUM Pictures, The Killings: Parrish Station promises to be an enthralling watch. The series is expected to create 180 jobs in NSW, and with cameras now rolling, is set to bring significant benefits to regional areas in our state.”