Two icons of the Australian small screen, Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths, are returning to the nation's capital to film the final instalment of ABC's critically acclaimed, award-winning political drama Total Control.
The pair will be joined by an enviable supporting cast for the Blackfella Films-produced six-part series, with the likes of Rob Collins with Wayne Blair, Anthony Hayes, Wesley Patten, Steph Tisdell, Daniela Farinacci, Lisa Flanagan, Benedict Hardie, Anita Hegh, Huw Higginson and Trisha Morton-Thomas all reprising their roles.
Lead actress and proud Bidjara woman Deborah Mailman said she is looking forward to completing the journey of Total Control, which first hit screens in 2019.
"I can't wait to step back into the character of Alex Irving one last time," she said.
"It's personally been a wonderful journey over the last two seasons to play such a gutsy, smart and unapologetic woman and I especially cannot wait to be with my Total Control family again. I hope audiences will enjoy the ride."
Mailman plays the lead role of Alex Irving, who was a Coalition Senator for Queensland in Series 1 and now independent MP for the Queensland seat of Freeman in Series 2.
Joining Mailman and the series' ensemble of actors are Catherine McClements, Fayssal Bazzi, Josef Ber, Lisa Hensley, Rosie Lourde, Maya Stange and Ursula Yovich.
Rachel Griffiths, who plays Rachel Anderson, the Prime Minister of Australia in Series 1 and now independent MP for the NSW seat of North Sydney in Series 2, said she considers the Total Control cast family.
"There is nothing as sad and also as exciting as shooting a final season of a show you have created a family with," Griffiths said.
"The chance to take our characters to a final satisfying point of their journey while also reflecting on the huge changes in our country's political life is going to be fantastic.
Ms Griffiths said Total Control has been ahead of its time in respect to both women in politics and Indigenous Australians in public life.
"Total Control was ground-breaking in reflecting the operating environment for women in politics in this country," Griffiths said.
"That conversation has caught up, but we are only beginning to understand the weight that First Nations people in public life carry and the discourse they are subjected to.
"I have been so privileged to be a part of this internationally-awarded show and can't wait for audiences to embrace its final season."
Season three picks up almost two years after the explosive events of the second season, with outsider turned kingmaker, Alex Irving (Mailman), completely at home in the nation's capital.
With Rachel Anderson (Griffiths), now an occasional ally, she threatens to upend the entire system by establishing her own political party.
Directed by Wayne Blair and Jub Clerc, Total Control will film in Canberra, the regional NSW town of Trangie and Sydney over the next three months, with season three to premiere on ABC and ABV iview in 2024.
