The McLeod’s Daughters reboot is set to return to screens in 2027, but the series will be filmed in Victoria rather than South Australia, where the original drama was set.
Victoria’s Minister for Creative Industries, Vicki Ward, announced the update on Thursday.
“Victoria is the perfect place to bring it back to life,” she said.
The decision may disappoint fans who associate the series with its iconic Drover’s Run homestead and the South Australian countryside. The original show filmed scenes at Kingsford The Barossa, Freeling, Kapunda and Killarney.
The exact filming location has not been confirmed, but VicScreen is inviting towns and communities to submit images of areas suitable for filming. The production is expected to contribute $35 million to Victoria’s economy and create up to 900 jobs.
Few details have been revealed about the reboot, although Nine indicated it would not be a prequel when announcing the project last month.
“A lot has happened since Australia last visited Drovers Run, but what hasn’t changed is the landscape and the uplifting spirit of the strong, resilient women navigating life on the land alongside the challenges of finding love and connection in the modern world,” the network said.
Joanna Werner will take over as showrunner from original creator Posie Graeme-Evans. Werner told A Current Affair she “can’t wait to find the cast”, suggesting the reboot may feature new actors.
Some fans have expressed concern about whether the new series can live up to the original.
“That scares me a bit, modern twist,” one fan wrote.
“How are they going to do it without Rachael Carpani?” another asked, referring to the late actress who played Jodi Fountain.
The original series ran from 2001 to 2009 on Nine and was broadcast in 100 countries. The reboot is expected to stream on Stan next year.
Image: Channel 9
