Acorn TV and CJZ Commission Second Season of Hit Australian Drama "Darby and Joan"

Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi-Led Series Sells Worldwide

Photo Credit: (C) 2024 Acorn Media Enterprises LLC & AMC Film Holdings LLC.

London, UK - June 6, 2024 - AMC Networks' Acorn TV and production partner CJZ today announced a season two commission of hit mystery drama, Darby and Joan, alongside news of wide sales to new platform partners globally.

Darby and Joan stars Emmy-nominee Bryan Brown (Boy Swallows Universe, Anyone But You, Cocktail) and Emmy winner Greta Scacchi (Rasputin, War and Peace, Bodies) as former cop Jack Darby and English nurse Joan Kirkhope, respectively, who collide in the Australian outback and become entangled in a string of intriguing mysteries. Forming an unlikely investigative duo, they quickly realise the greatest mystery they face is each other.

Season two, which will film mid-year in Australia, finds Jack and Joan on the hunt for the one person Jack believes can reveal the truth about his mysterious past. Jack and Joan soon realize they aren't alone on this journey and their quest becomes a race against time. But can they really find the truth after all these years? Or will their search for answers only unearth more questions?

Darby and Joan has consistently been a top performer on Acorn TV's international streaming platform since its launch in 2022 and has since been released on additional channels in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., Japan, Israel, Eastern Europe and others. The title has now been acquired by UKTV in the U.K., BBC Studios in Benelux, AXN Mystery Channel in Japan, Network 4 in Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, and Disney Channel in CEE (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia). It also aired to stellar ratings on Australia's ABC TV in January 2024.

"We are delighted at how well Darby and Joan has been received by international broadcasters. Sales in Japan, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Benelux and the UK demonstrate that audiences have a strong appetite for light, entertaining, good quality crime series. The magnificent Australian backdrop frames this charming drama and its likable characters. We are very excited about the arrival of series two and thankful to our partners at CJZ," said Vanessa Jordan, Head of International Sales and Acquisitions, Acorn Media International.

"From its embryonic state some 10 years ago, we always believed Darby and Joan would become a favourite crime solving couple. We are so pleased Acorn could see what we were trying to say with the series and have backed it every inch of the way since the pitch," said Matt Campbell, CEO of CJZ.

"Darby and Joan series two continues uncovering what Queensland is renowned for - our diverse locations, skilled crew and wonderful screen storytelling for global audiences, underpinned by investment from the Queensland Government. We are pleased that the cast and crew get to continue their road trip on this beloved series," said Jacqui Feeney, CEO Screen Queensland.

A CJZ Production, Darby and Joan is an Acorn TV Original, supported by Screen Queensland's Screen Finance Program. Acorn Media International is the exclusive international distributor of the series.

Darby and Joan series two is executive produced by Matt Campbell, Claire Tonkin, Catherine Mackin and Bea Tammer, with series producer Elisa Argenzio and script producer Sarah Smith. Created by Glenys Rowe and Phillip Gwynne, the series' writers include Andrew Anastasios, Giula Sandler, Stephen Vagg, Sarah Smith and David Hannam. Set up director is Jovita O'Shaughnessy.

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), 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) and many more. The above add to a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas including Jack Irish (Guy Pearce), Doc Martin (Martin Clunes), Deadwater Fell (David Tennant, Cush Jumbo), all 24 seasons of fan-favorite Midsomer Murders and highly-rated drama The Nest, among others.

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

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Acorn TV is available for $7.99/month or $79.99/year. Facebook: OfficialAcornTV - Twitter: @AcornTV - Instagram: @Acorn_tv

About CJZ

CJZ is one of Australia's leading independently owned production companies, producing original primetime content for networks and streamers in Australia and across the globe. The company works across all genres - specialising in factual, entertainment, comedy and drama. Signature programs include the long running ABC TV entertainment show Gruen, Bondi Rescue (Ten), Question Everything (ABC), and the ground-breaking format Go Back to Where You Came From (SBS). In addition to Darby and Joan, scripted series include My Life is Murder (Acorn TV/TVNZ), House of Hancock (Nine) and BlackJack (Ten/BBC).

About Screen Queensland

Screen Queensland is the state government-owned agency investing in locally made films, series and digital games, and attracting international and interstate production and post-production. The agency runs career-building initiatives for practitioners around the state and supports film festivals and industry events and conferences such as Screen Forever, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the AACTA Awards and Festival. Screen Queensland is deeply committed to uplifting the voices of Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and increasing diversity on and off screen.

Recently supported productions include Eden, Mortal Kombat 2, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Apples Never Fall, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Bluey, Elvis, Thirteen Lives, Ticket to Paradise, The Portable Door, Nautilus, Land of Bad, Boy Swallows Universe, Black Snow, How to Make Gravy, Audrey, In Limbo, Scarygirl, Rebel with a Cause, Strait to the Plate, Rock Island Mysteries, True Spirit, In Our Blood, Limbo, Love is in the Air and digital games Unpacking, My Little Pony: Mane Merge, Servonauts, Mowing Mazes and Cities: Skylines - Remastered. Screen Queensland also operates Screen Queensland Studios, Brisbane, and Screen Queensland Studios, Cairns.