‘Safe Harbour.’
The US rights to Matchbox Pictures’ Safe Harbour have been acquired by Hulu.
The four-part psychological thriller commissioned by SBS will premiere on August 24 as a Hulu Original Series on the streaming service, which has more than 20 million subscribers.
Hulu has shown an appetite for Australian series, acquiring such titles as The Code, The Slap, The Strange Calls, Dance Academy, The Other Guy, Kath and Kim and Neighbours as well as Paul Currie’s movie 2.22.
The streaming service owned by Disney, Fox and Comcast (which will be majority owned by Disney after it acquires most of Fox’s film and entertainment assets) is home to international co-productions including National Treasure as well The Handmaid’s Tale and The Looming Tower.
Since co-producing and launching series such as Hard Sun and Harlots, the company said the consumption of high-calibre international dramas on Hulu has tripled over the past year alone.
NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution negotiated the deal with Hulu.
Glendyn Ivin directed the drama which was produced by Stephen Corvini and scripted by Belinda Chayko (who also served as the showrunner), Matt Cameron and Phil Enchelmaier.
The show starred Ewen Leslie, Phoebe Tonkin, Jacqueline McKenzie, Leeanna Walsman, Joel Jackson, Nicole Chamoun, Hazem Shammas and Robert Rabiah.
“We’ve always felt that Safe Harbour was a story full of powerful dramatic potential that could connect and enthrall audiences not only in Australia but anywhere in the world. We are thrilled that Hulu has acquired Safe Harbour to make its mark in the US,” Corvini tells IF.