It's been over a decade since cult Australian drama McLeod's Daughters left our screens, but we still remember the faces of Drovers Run like it was yesterday. Good news for loyal fans of the series, the show's writer and producer Posie Graeme Evans has announced that an "exciting" movie is officially in the works, tentatively titled The McLeods of Drovers Run.
As reported by The Mercury, funding for the movie was announced on Wednesday by the Tasmanian Government. The funding comes from the state's $3.5 million Cultural and Creative Industries Stimulus Package, which aims to help revive an industry largely shut down by the coronavirus pandemic..
"THE STORY CONTINUES," she began. "Yes — it really does. And I'm letting you know first. We're developing a feature film. It's called 'The McLeods of Drovers Run' and I started writing the story a couple of months ago. TODAY we heard that we've got backing from Screen Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government to write the very first stage of the movie. This is such a vote of confidence in McLeods.
"And I promise, as we develop the story with the very talented screen writer Emma Jensen ('Mary Shelley' and the upcoming release, 'I am Woman' — the Helen Reddy story) that I'll keep you with us every step of the way. We're just at the beginning, the very beginning, but we're on our way. No promises but I have such a good feeling about this. Hope I'm right 🙏."
It's not yet known if original cast members like Bridie Carter (Tess McLeod) and Rachael Carpani (Jodi Fountain) will return for the movie — but both actors shared the exciting news to their Instagram Stories.
McLeod's Daughters aired on Channel Nine for eight seasons from 2001 to 2009, earning Logie awards for star Lisa Chappell aka the late Claire McLeod. It followed a telemovie, with different stars, that was released in 1996.
The feature film announcement also comes after McLeod's Daughters was recently voted the nation's favourite TV show to binge watch during lockdown in The Great Australian Binge initiative.
