Production is underway in NSW and ACT on the third and final installment of the political drama Total control for ABC.
Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths reprise their roles of Alex Irving and Rachel Anderson, respectively.
Produced by Blackfella Films, the six-part series picks up nearly two years after the explosive events of the second season.
The returning cast includes Rob Collins, Wayne Blair, Anthony Hayes, Wesley Patten, Steph Tisdell, Daniela Farinacci, Lisa Flanagan, Benedict Hardie, Anita Hegh, Huw Higginson and Trisha Morton-Thomas.
Joining them are Catherine McClements, Fayssal Bazzi, Josef Ber, Lisa Hensley, Rosie Lourde, Maya Stange and Ursula Yovich.
Deborah Mailman says, “I can’t wait to get back into the character of Alex Irving one last time. Personally it has been a wonderful journey the last two seasons playing such a brave, intelligent and unapologetic woman and most of all I can’t wait to be with my Total control family again. I hope the audience will enjoy the ride.
Rachel Griffiths added, “There’s nothing as sad and also as exciting as filming the final season of a show with which you’ve started a family. The ability to bring our characters to a satisfying end point of their journey while also reflecting on the huge changes in the political life of our country will be great. Total control it was groundbreaking in reflecting the operating environment for women in politics in this country. That conversation has caught on, but we’re only beginning to understand the weight First Nations people carry in public life and the discourse to which they are subjected. I have been privileged to be a part of this internationally awarded show and can’t wait for audiences to embrace its final season.
Directed by Wayne Blair and Jub Clerc, it will be filmed in Canberra, the regional city of Trangie and Sydney in NSW over the next three months. The third season will debut in 2024.
Outsider turned king, Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman), is completely at home in the nation’s capital. While Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), now an occasional ally, threatens to upend the whole system by starting her own political party. However, as Alex attempts to carve out a nation-changing legacy, a controversy engineered by his enemies threatens to destroy his career and his public reputation. In our final season, Alex has to make a choice: either she can stay true to his principles and accept defeat, or she can get her hands dirty and fight back.
Production Credit: A Blackfella Films production. Big production investments by ABC and Screen Australia. Funded with support from Screen NSW with Screen ACT and VicScreen. Producers Darren Dale and Erin Bretherton. Executive producers Rachel Griffiths and Stuart Page.
ABC executive producers Sally Riley and Kelrick Martin. The international distributor is All3Media International.
