Scrublands is a tense Australian drama set in an isolated country town. It stars Jay Ryan as a charismatic and dedicated young priest, who calmly opened fire on his congregation and killed five parishioners in the remote town of Riversend. A year on, investigative journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold) is sent to file a feature on the anniversary of the shocking event but soon realises the accepted narrative is full of holes. As Martin digs further into the story to uncover the truth, he finds himself in extreme danger from hostile locals.
Scrublands is based on the award-winning novel written by Chris Hammer and here’s everything you need to know about the four-part drama adaptation on Sundance Now and AMC+ in the US, BBC4 and BBCiPlayer in the UK, Stan in Australia…
Scrublands release date
Scrublands is a four-part drama launching in the US on Sundance Now and AMC+ on Thursday May 2 2024. The series has already been shown in the UK from Saturday November 18 at 9pm and 9.50pm on BBC4. All four episodes are also a box set on BBCiPlayer. Each episode is 50 minutes.
In Australia. Scrublands premiered on Stan on Thursday November 16 2023.
Is there a trailer for Scrublands?
Yes you can see the Scrublands trailer right here or below. It looks like an intense mystery to follow...
What is the plot of Scrublands?
In Scrublands, investigative journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold) is sent to a remote town where a young priest called Byron Swift (Jay Ryan) gunned down five five members of his congregation a year earlier. Martin has been tasked with writing a piece to commemorate the anniversary of the tragedy, but his instincts tell him that the truth behind the story has yet to be told. So he decides to investigate further but his search for the truth leads to a life-or-death battle. Locals are still deeply scarred from the event and have grown hostile to journalists — local bookstore owner Mandy Bond (Bella Heathcote), Constable Robbie Haus-Jones (Zwar) and widow of one of the massacre victims, Fran Landers (Victoria Thaine) all give him the cold shoulder.
Scrublands cast — Luke Arnold as Martin Scarsden
Former Home and Away star Luke Arnold, who was Lewis Hayes in the Aussie soap, is playing journalist Martin Scarsden in Scrublands.
"Scrublands is about motive, history and what people are going through. There's tragedy, romance, action, it's got everything and deeper layers than your usual mystery," Luke recently told Daily Mail Australia. "It is a great Australian drama which moves at a great pace. Hammer's writing is so great and we had a great team, Wolf Creek director Greg McLean and [Underbelly writer] Felicity Packard."
* Luke Arnold has also starred in True Colours, Preppers, Black Sails and The End. He also played frontman Michael Hutchence in the series INXS: Never Tear us Apart.
Jay Ryan as priest Byron Swift
Jay Ryan is playing the villain in Scrublands — a young priest Byron Swift who committed a terrible atrocity.
* Jay Ryan also made his name in soaps, having played Jack Scully in Neighbours. This year he starred in the Paramount Plus series No Escape and he has also appeared in Creamerie, Beauty and the Beast, Go Girls and Mary Kills People.
Who else is starring in Scrublands?
The cast of Scrublands also includes Bella Heathcote (Relic, C*A*U*G*H*T) as Mandy Bond, plus Adam Zwar (Squinters) as policeman Robbie Haus-Jones and Victoria Thaine plays widow of one of the massacre victims, Fran Landers. Stacy Clausen (True Spirit) plays Allen Newkirk, Robert Taylor (The Newsreader) plays Harley Reagan, Zane Ciarma (Neighbours) is Jamie Landers, Martin Copping is Craig Landers, Genevieve Morris (No Activity) is Mandy Bond's mother Flick who is battling cancer, Ben De Pagter is Hugh Grovesnor and newcomer Ella Ferris plays Shaz McIntyre.
Scrublands episode guide
Here's a brief guide to each of the four episodes of Scrublands...
Episode 1
A year after a horrific mass shooting by priest Byron Swift, who killed five of his parishoners, investigative journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in the remote country town of Riversend to write an article on the tragic anniversary. Soon Martin realises there is far more to this story than what was in the previous headlines. But non of the locals are at all keen to talk.
Episode 2
Despite hostility from the locals, Martin's investigation leads to a series of revelations that draw him deeper into the local scrublands and uncovering the secrets of Riversend. A tragic road accident which Martin is involved in further hits the community of Riversend.
Episode 3
Gradually, pieces of the puzzle behidd Bryon's Swift's murders are starting to come together but Martin's excitement is short lived when his search for the truth causes him to becomes a target, and he very nearly pays for it with his life
Episode 4
All the answers as to who killer priest Byron Swift really was and why he chose to kill five people are eventually revealed as Martin comes face to face with the true mastermind behind the events of the massacre.
Behind the scenes and more on Scrublands
Scrublands is a four-part series from Australian production company Easy Tiger (Colin from Accounts, The Twelve). The thriller was acquired by the BBC from Abacus Media Rights who have international distribution rights for the series. It was produced by Easy Tiger for Stan Australia and the Nine Network. Produced by Ian Collie, Rob Gibson, David Redman and Felicity Packard, the series is directed by Greg McLean and written by Felicity Packard, Kelsey Munro and Jock Serong.
