OFFICIAL TIFF 2022 SELECTION "MYSTERY ROAD: ORIGIN" PREMIERES SEPTEMBER 26 EXCLUSIVELY ON ACORN TV

Prequel to Acclaimed Australian Crime Drama Directed by Award-Winning First Nations Filmmaker Dylan River

New York, NY - September 14, 2022 - An official selection at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, Mystery Road: Origin will premiere exclusively on Acorn TV, AMC Networks' acclaimed streamer devoted to British and international television. This new six-part drama is the prequel to the award-winning Australian noir series and films, Mystery Road, and centers on the early career of broody and complex Indigenous detective Jay Swan. Mystery Road: Origin premieres Monday, September 26 with the first two episodes on Acorn TV - a pair of new episodes will stream weekly every Monday through October 10.

The series had its International Premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, as part of its Primetime Program.

Mark Coles Smith (Halifax: Retribution, Picnic at Hanging Rock) takes up the iconic role previously portrayed by Aaron Pedersen, as a young Jay Swan in this 1999-set prequel. Arriving at his new post in an Outback mining town, which is home to his estranged father and the woman who will change his life forever (Mary), the freshly minted detective finds himself in the middle of a series of heists by a masked gang and a re-opened cold case with personal significance. Jay faces a tragic death, a burgeoning love, and the brutal reality of being a police officer straddling two worlds.

Mystery Road: Origin also stars: Tuuli Narkle (All My Friends Are Racist), Kelton Pell (The Gods of Wheat Street), Salme Geransar (Clickbait), Daniel Henshall (The Babadook), Toby Leonard Moore (Billions), Steve Bisley (Mad Max), Clarence Ryan (Cleverman), Hayley McElhinney (The Heart Guy), Lisa Flanagan (Total Control), and Caroline Brazier (Rake).

An Acorn TV Original, Mystery Road: Origin is produced by Bunya Productions for the ABC, with major production investment from Screen Australia's First Nations Department in association with Screen West and the Western Australian Screen Fund supported through the State Government of WA's Royalties for Regions program. Mystery Road: Origin is directed by Dylan River and produced by Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey. Executive producers are Sally Riley, Ivan Sen, Andrew Gregory and Blake Ayshford. The writers are: Steven McGregor, Blake Ayshford, Kodie Bedford, Timothy Lee, and Dylan River, and Director of Photography is Tyson Perkins. Script producer is Blake Ayshford. The series was filmed on location in western Australia.

Both seasons of original hit Australian crime drama, Mystery Road, premiered on Acorn TV (in 2018 and 2020 respectively). Aside from starring Aaron Pedersen (Jack Irish, A Place to Call Home), the main co-stars were Judy Davis (Ratched, Feud) in season 1 and Sofia Helin (The Bridge, Atlantic Crossing) in season 2. It won numerous awards from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), including Best Television Drama Series, as well as awards from the Australian Directors Guild and the Australian Writers' Guild. The franchise launched with two acclaimed feature films: Mystery Road (2013) and Goldstone (2016).

###

About Acorn TV

AMC Networks' Acorn TV is North America's largest streaming service specializing in premium British and international television. Acorn TV adds exclusive programming every week to a deep library of revered mysteries, dramas, and comedies - all commercial-free. Acorn TV's recent slate is comprised of critically acclaimed commissioned and original series including popular New Zealand detective series My Life Is Murder (Lucy Lawless), acclaimed Irish crime thriller Bloodlands (James Nesbitt, co-executive produced by Jed Mercurio), British crime drama Whitstable Pearl (Kerry Godliman), Emmy(R)-nominated Queens of Mystery, Kiwi romantic comedy Under the Vines and British detective drama Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel), to name a few. Current and upcoming Acorn TV Original Series include UK detective drama Harry Wild (Jane Seymour), Signora Volpe (Emilia Fox), The Chelsea Detective (Adrian Scarborough), Darby and Joan (Bryan Brown, Greta Scacchi) and many more. The above add to a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas including Agatha Raisin (Ashley Jensen), A Place to Call Home, Jack Irish (Guy Pearce), Doc Martin (Martin Clunes), Deadwater Fell (David Tennant, Cush Jumbo), all 22 seasons of fan-favorite Midsomer Murders, highly-rated drama The Nest, and groundbreaking period drama A Suitable Boy, among others.

"glorious streaming service... an essential must-have" - The Hollywood Reporter

"Netflix for the Anglophile" - NPR

Acorn TV is available for $6.99/month or $69.99/year. Facebook: OfficialAcornTV - Twitter: @AcornTV - Instagram: @Acorn_tv