The BBC has acquired upcoming Australian crime drama Dustfall, starring and exec produced by The Newsreader’s Anna Torv.
Co-produced by Soapbox Pictures and Moonriver for the ABC, in association with the BBC, the six-parter is based on the novel The Unbelieved by Vikki Petraitis and is currently in production on the Gold Coast of Australia.
It follows a detective (Torv) who returns to her hometown to investigate a string of drink spiking assaults. But the case is turned on its head when one of the main suspects is murdered.
The drama is adapted for television by Dianne Taylor (After the Party), Stuart Page (Total Control), Belinda Chayko (The Survivors) and Beatrix Christian (Black Snow).
It is directed by Emma Freeman (The Newsreader) who also exec produces alongside Torv, Deb Balderstone, Xavier Marchand and Daisy Gilbert.
The cast also includes Juliet Stevenson (King & Conqueror), Bert Labonte (Colin From Accounts) and Alice Ansara (Black Snow).
Head of scripted pre-buy acquisitions Sue Deeks said: “Starring the magnificent Anna Torv, Dustfall is a powerful, emotionally charged crime drama that is as thought-provoking as it is compelling.”
The series, which will air on BBC1, is supported by Screen Australia and Screen Queensland, and international sales are handled by Federation International.
It follows recent BBC crime dramas acquired from Australia including Black Snow (Goalpost Pictures), Scrublands (Easy Tiger Productions) and Curio Pictures duo The Narrow Road to the Deep North and High Country.