This classic Australian film is returning as a mini-series

It’s been 50 years since Joan Lindsay’s Picnic at Hanging Rock was published, and more than 42 years since Peter Weir’s haunting film adaptation took the country by storm.

Many fans of the Picnic at Hanging Rock film can recall the eerie notes that played on a pan flute as three schoolgirls disappeared on their school field trip.

Now, the story is getting a total overhaul with Foxtel’s adaptation to the small screen later this year. It’s far from the ethereal film fans remember; Ruby Rees, who plays Edith, revealed the series will feature some modern upgrades with punk rock listed on the sound track. 

The look of the film will remain much the same; Rees, Madeleine Madden (Marion) and Lily Sullivan (Miranda) joke that, while they loved making the film, they’re happy for the chance to breathe now that they’re no longer wearing corsets.  

“We’ve really taken the story and gone deeper and darker with it, and really explored the lives of these women and what they were going through during that time,” says Madden.

The new cast features many Australian television stars, including Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black) and Anna McGahan (House Husbands, Anzac Girls, Underbelly: Razor).

Perhaps the biggest name, however, is film and TV star Natalie Dormer. Dormer has starred in Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games. She will take on the role of Mrs Hester Appleyard, the boarding school’s stern headmistress.

“This reimagining of the iconic story will no doubt grab a contemporary audience with its mystery, emotion and wide range of complex, smart female characters,” Dormer says. “To play Hester Appleyard is a joy.”

The ending of the story has always been a point of contention for fans, with many questions left unanswered. There’s no news yet of whether the series will have a similar cliffhanger ending, but with six episodes to come, there will be plenty of time to expand upon the story and characters so many have come to love.  

While an official air date has yet to be confirmed, Picnic at Hanging Rock will be released on Foxtel later this year.

Will you be tuning in to watch the remake? How do you feel about the modern changes to the score?