New Teen Series for Australia’s Paramount+

Paramount+ Australia is set to debut the new teen drama More Than This in early 2022.

Produced by Baby Banksia with the assistance of Big Finish Creative, Shapeshifter Studios and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), the series explores the challenges teenagers face as they come of age, including social, family and school pressures, bullying, body image, relationships and sexuality.

The story centers on five 17-year-olds and their teacher whose worlds collide when they are put together in the same final-year English class.

More Than This was created and written by teen actor Olivia Deeble (Little Lunch, Home and Away, The Secret Society of Second Born Royals) and co-created by 18-year-old Luka Gracie. Deeble and Gracie star alongside Kamil Ellis (Nowhere Boys), Ellmir Asipi (Neighbours), Josh Heuston (Dive Club), Oisin O’Leary (Little Lunch), Celine Ajobong (Mustangs FC), Tharanya Tharan (Mustangs FC), Selena Brincat and Bert Labonte.

The series is produced by Kate Gorman and directed by Gorman and John Sheedy (H is for Happiness).

Deeble said: “I had auditioned for and watched hundreds of high school shows, and they were all the same. None of them were telling anything near my truth or experience, so I wanted to make something authentic. I asked my friends what they would want to see on screen and the answer was ourselves: real teens and not shiny, airbrushed versions of teenagers played by 25-year-olds with adult bodies and adult confidence. I am really proud of More Than This. I feel like the characters, words and story are our own, and it is a realistic depiction of how Australian teenagers feel while still being a great series with a whole lot of characters you can fall in love with.”

Gorman added: “More Than This is breaking new ground, having been created by teens and telling stories from their point of view. It has been such a pleasure to work with the very talented cast and see their individuality, uniqueness and passions brought together in this amazing series. I can’t wait for the world to meet this young cast and fall in love with the diverse characters they have created.”

Bernadette O’Mahony, executive producer, said: “Olivia is an exciting new creative force. We loved her in Little Lunch at 12, and now at 18 to have written a drama series of this quality with such complexity, we knew we had to support it. It is a unique, world-class drama series for a young adult audience, written by those living it. The authentic voice of Olivia and Luka’s stories and their characters hook you in, along with the fabulous cast who all had their own input and own experiences to bring to these roles. We know it’s a series that teens and young adults will relate to.”

Daniel Monaghan, senior VP of content and programming at 10 ViacomCBS, said: “We are thrilled to have partnered with ACTF to bring the incredible drama More Than This. It is a sensational series with an extremely talented, creative and young cast that are a force to be reckoned with. We are so pleased we can showcase these unique Australian stories by such a talented Australian team.”

Jenny Buckland, CEO of ACTF, commented: “Teens are a neglected audience, and we’re thrilled that Paramount+ and Ten have helped us move into a new area. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for us, and audiences can expect to see more teen content supported by the ACTF.”