Wentworth fans rejoice, because the trailer has dropped for the new spin-off series, Wentworth: Halfway Home!
The show is currently in production in Melbourne and was first confirmed to be in the works by actress Danielle Cormack, who played Bea Smith on the Fremantle series.
“We’re incredibly proud of the legacy of Wentworth and excited to reveal what we’re creating in this bold new chapter,” Foxtel’s Director of Scripted Originals, Lana Greenhalgh, added.
“The next iteration honors everything fans loved about the world, while opening the door to a new era of formidable and compelling characters driven by fresh, provocative storylines. The project is at an exciting stage of development, and we look forward to sharing more details soon.”
So, what will the show be about, and will any familiar faces be returning?
Read on for everything we know so far.
What will the new Wentworth spin-off be about?
The new Wentworth spin-off series will take viewers “beyond the prison walls, into the unpredictable reality of life on parole”, according to a press release.
Freshly paroled, Sue “Boomer” Jenkins (played by Katrina Milosevic) arrives at Sal’s Halfway House and is determined to get custody of her daughter and build a life for them both beyond bars.
However, when a body turns up, she questions everything.
Some of the characters from Wentworth will be back including Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva) and Lou Kelly (Kate Box) as well as national treasure Rachel Griffiths’ character Moira.
When is the Wentworth spin off’s premiere date?
Wentworth: Halfway Home is coming to BINGE and Foxtel Now on Monday 7 December. Tune in from 1pm AEDT on BINGE and Foxtel On Demand, and at 12pm and 8.30pm AEDT on Showcase.
In the meantime, you can watch all episodes of Wentworth on Foxtel Now or BINGE.
Why was Wentworth cancelled?
Wentworth ran for eight series from 2013 until 2021 before it was cancelled.
It wasn’t canned due to low ratings, but because producers felt it was the right time to wrap up the story.
Producer Jo Porter also revealed that the decision was influenced by the news that they were due to lose their filming space.
“Knowing when to put down the brush is an absolute art,” she shared at the time.
“We are going out on a high. That also means if down the track we come up with a brilliant reason to examine a character or a different part of the world we haven’t explored because you’ve gone out on a high, there’s the chance to potentially come back, but we’re not committing to that just yet. It’s too soon.”
Is Wentworth based on Prisoner?
Yes! Wentworth is a modern-day reimagining of the popular Network 10 series Prisoner, which aired to huge success in the 1970s.
Some of the main characters, including Bea Smith, have the same names as the original series, but Wentworth took its own take on the original story.
Leading star Danielle told New Idea in 2020, “I wanted to put my own spin on the character. However, I did have a couple of sessions on YouTube watching clips, and what I did get from Val [Lehman, who played the role in Prisoner] was how she was with Bea tonally.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
