There are fewer things Australians hold dear more than Picnic at Hanging Rock. And it seems like the cast and crew behind the new Amazon Prime original miniseries are well aware of it.
Speaking with The Knockturnal at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday, Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer said she’s well aware of everyone’s attachment to the 1975 Peter Weir film of the same name, but claims the new miniseries is based on the 1967 Joan Lindsay novel the film later adapted.
“The direct reference for us is the book. It’s a complete reimagining of the book,” said Dormer. “The Peter Weir film is hallowed, but it has nothing to do with what we’re doing.”
Dormer and director Larysa Kondracki, as well as producer Jo Porter all, commented on their need to stay true to the novel while also moving away from a recreation of the film. That being said, all of them said this was a total effort to move away from standard costume dramas we’ve seen countless times, like Pride and Prejudice.
“It feels surprisingly modern,” Dormer continued. “There’s a sort of magical surrealism to it.”
While the novel is deeply rooted in Australian culture, this is a global project. Dormer, hailing from England, represents just one country of the eclectic cast that includes actors from Spain and France. Even Kondracki, a Canadian, and Porter, an Australian, said the cast was excited to work together on such a revered story.
Check out the interviews we had with the three below.
