Faraway Downs Trailer: Baz Luhrmann Recuts 2008 Film Australia Into 6-Part Disney+ Limited Series

Disney+ has shared the first trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s Faraway Downs, the reimagined extended version of Luhrmann’s 2008 epic adventure film, Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

The series will launch on the streaming service on Nov 26.

Faraway Downs centres on English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman), who travels halfway across the world to confront her wayward husband and sell an unusual asset: Faraway Downs, a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian outback.

Following the death of her husband, a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown) plots to take her land, and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Jackman) to protect her ranch.

The sweeping adventure-romance is explored through the eyes of young Nullah (Brandon Walters), an Indigenous Australian child caught up in the government’s Draconian racial policy now referred to as the Stolen Generations.

Together, the trio experiences four life-altering years, a love affair between Lady Ashley and the drover, and the unavoidable impact of World War II on Northern Australia.

Faraway Downs is slated to make its world premiere at the SXSW Sydney Festival on Saturday (Oct 21).

“I was inspired to re-approach my film Australia to create Faraway Downs because of the way episodic storytelling has been reinvigorated by the streaming world,” Luhrmann said in a statement. “With over two million feet of film from the original piece, my team and I were able to revisit anew the central themes of the work.

“I am honoured to world premiere Faraway Downs in Australia, the place that has inspired me and my work my entire life, and with a partner like SXSW who deeply recognises the intersection of film, television and music with storytelling.”

The theatrical version of Australia is 165 minutes long. It grossed US$211.7 million (S$290.5 mil) worldwide on a reported US$130 million budget. It picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Costume Design.

Watch the Faraway Downs trailer here: