Foxtel Announces 'Picnic At Hanging Rock' TV Series

Joan Lindsay’s gothic Australian classic, Picnic At Hanging Rock, is to be adapted into a six-part miniseries by Foxtel, it was announced today.

In partnership with FremantleMedia Australia and Screen Australia, the new drama will feature six one-hour episodes chronicling the mysterious disappearance of three schoolgirls and their teacher on Valentine’s Day 1900, during a day trip to the rugged outback near Mount Macedon, north of Melbourne.

How the story will be treated is yet to be revealed, although Foxtel has described the series as a “reimagining” of Lindsay’s novel. Many will be familiar with the 1975 film adaptation by Peter Weir, which was a faithful, period adaptation of the book; however, other recent reboot successes by Foxtel, such as the Prisoner remake, Wentworth, have had an updated, contemporary setting, which could hint at a similar direction for Picnic At Hanging Rock.

No details of the cast have been announced yet, but the screenplay will be written by Beatrix Christian and Alice Addison. It will premiere on Foxtel in 2017.