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Binge drama The Twelve to shoot season three in WA, with Hollywood star Sam Neill happily reprising his role

Clare RigdenPerthNow
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Sam Neill is coming back to WA to reprise his role in The Twelve, which has quietly begun filming in the state.
Camera IconSam Neill is coming back to WA to reprise his role in The Twelve, which has quietly begun filming in the state. Credit: JOHN TSIAVIS/TheWest

He loved it so much — he’s coming back!

Sam Neill is headed back to Western Australia to reprise his role as Brett Colby SC in season three of Binge’s award-winning drama, The Twelve, which has already commenced production in WA.

“I am very happy at the prospect of being back with Colby and back in Western Australia, and very much looking forward to our first time in the Margaret River region,” he told The West Australian.

The production, which shot here in 2023 and aired its second season this year, will once again base itself in the State for its next iteration, this time filming in and around the Margaret River region and Perth Surrounds.

“After such a good experience filming The Twelve season two in WA last year, it’s great to be back and this time, taking audiences to Margaret River and Western Australia’s dramatic south west coast,” Alison Hurbert-Burns, Commissioner and Executive Director, Entertainment Content, Foxtel Group said.

The Logie and AACTA award-winning series was the first to take advantage of the WA Production Attraction Incentive (WAPAI), a Screenwest and WA government initiative designed to lure productions to the West.

The Twelve Season Three has quietly begun production in Perth. Pictured (L to R) Ian Collie, Rikki Lea Bestall, Hon David Templeman, Alison Hurbert Burns & Hamish Lewis
Camera IconThe Twelve Season Three has quietly begun production in Perth. Pictured (L to R) Ian Collie, Rikki Lea Bestall, Hon David Templeman, Alison Hurbert Burns & Hamish Lewis Credit: Supplied/Binge/Binge

According to released data, the drama delivered $9.6m to the WA economy and created more than 650 jobs.

“We can’t wait to see Brett Colby SC on the ground in Margaret River this time, and showcase our talented cast, crew and beautiful South West on screen,” Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO said in a statement.

Not much is known about the next season, but it looks likely to follow season two in introducing twelve new jurors and a brand new case.

“The Twelve has captivated audiences with its unique premise of focusing on twelve jurors as they wrestle with their duty to deliver a verdict while navigating their own personal issues,” an official release reads.

“Sam Neill will return to the anthology series to reprise his role of Brett Colby SC, as the lives of the jury unravel throughout a cold case murder trial.”

Production will film in locations at Parliament House and the ABC Studios in Perth, as well as venturing further afield to the South West.

L-R Back row Brad Francis as COLUMBUS EVANS, Suesha Rana as DONNA LEE, Nelson Baker as GUS HEATH, Isabelle Bäsén as SKYE LEHMAN, Luke Pegler as DEAN PEARCEY & Sharon Johal as PARVINDER SANGAR
L-R Front row Anthony B Wong as WINSTON HANG, Adriano Cappelletti as FELIX TILLLY, Stefanie Caccamo as CLAUDIA D’ANGELO, Josh McKenzie as JOEY KOVAC, Greg McNeill as IAN CAMPBELL & Tasma Walton as THELMA CONNELL, The Twelve Season 2 - Photograph by David Dare Parker
Camera IconEach season of The Twelve features a new case and 12 new jurors, whose lives play out on screen. Credit: David Dare Parker/TheWest

It is anticipated that season three will deliver a $10 million injection into the WA economy and provide a similar number of jobs.

Rumours have been swirling for some time that another season was on the way, intensifying after the show’s Executive Producer and Script Producer Sarah Walker spoke with the TV Reload podcast about how thrilled she was that Neill agreed to return for a second season.

“I think now that we’ve had Sam back, and thankfully he did come back because he adds so much to it, I would hate to go forward without him,” she reportedly said of subsequent seasons in the anthology series.

The Twelve has been a big success for Binge locally and has been sold to networks worldwide.

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