Susan Sarandon, playing the U.S. Secretary of State Alaska Adams, gets the better of Bryan Brown, as the Australian prime minister, in a fast-paced verbal duel that represents the first footage from the Sean Penn-produced satirical comedy series “C*A*U*G*H*T.”
An elite team of Aussie soldiers is sent to an island nation to retrieve a secret file that has gone astray. Mistaken for Americans, they are captured by freedom fighters and produce a hostage video that goes viral. When the soldiers achieve celebrity status on social media, they realize that being caught might just be the best thing that could’ve happened to them.
More from Variety
“C*A*U*G*H*T” explores themes of identity, fame, and the absurdity of the viral age. “Why can’t we comedically deconstruct the intellectual ideas that humanity is facing right now?” says Kick Gurry who directs, produces and stars in the six-part series.
The show also stars Travis Fimmel (“Vikings”), Rebecca Breeds (“Clarice”), Tuppence Middleton (“Downton Abbey”), Bella Heathcote (“Scrublands”) and Erik Thomson (“Black Snow”).
Additional cast is now confirmed as including Penn, Sarandon, Brown, Nicholas Hammond (“The Sound of Music”), Silvia Colloca (“The Twelve”), Matthew Fox (“Lost”), Ben O’Toole (“Detroit”), Lincoln Younes (“Last King of the Cross”), Alexander England (Stan Original series “Black Snow”), Mel Jarnson (“Mortal Kombat”), Fayssal Bazzi (“Stateless”) and Dorian Nkono (“The Twelve”).
The show is set up as an original production by Australian streamer Stan that will upload all episodes on Sept. 28. International distribution is handled by Fremantle, which has already secured the U.K.’s new streaming service ITVX for an October release.
Penn executive produces alongside producers John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz (“Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan,” Stan original film “Gold”) from Deeper Water Films, and Brendan Donoghue. “C*A*U*G*H*T” is executive produced by Cailah Scobie and Amanda Duthie for Stan.
Watch the clip here:
Earlier this week, Stan confirmed a further expansion of its originals slate.
“Thou Shalt Not Steal” is an eight-episode road series set in Central and South Australia in the 1980s. On a search for the truth behind a mysterious family secret a young Aboriginal delinquent, escapes from detention and reluctantly teams up with awkward teenager. Hot on their heels are a sex trafficker and a fraudulent preacher.
Commissioned by Stan and distributed by DCD Rights, “Thou Shalt Not Steal” is directed Dylan River (“Mystery Road: Origin,” “Robbie Hood”) and produced by producer Sam Moor (“Bluey”).
“Exposure” is a six-episode mystery-thriller set in coastal New South Wales. It follows a photographer who, following the death of her best friend, returns to her hometown to discover the hidden secrets of their relationship and the truth behind her tragedy.
Commissioned by Stan and distributed by All3Media International, “Exposure” is produced through Thirdborn by Nicole O’Donohue (“Love Me,” “Frayed”), with Justin Kurzel and Shaun Grant (“Nitram” and “True History of the Kelly Gang”). It is written and created by Lucy Coleman (“Hot Mess”) and directed by Bonnie Moir (“Love Me” S2).
“Invisible Boys” is a 10-episode contemporary drama series adapted from a book by multi-award-winning author Holden Sheppard. Set in the regional town of Geraldton, Western Australia, where everyone thinks they know everyone else, a closeted gay teen’s hook-up with a married man has irreversible consequences for a group of teens who have previously been invisible.
“Invisible Boys” is created and directed Nicholas Verso (“Crazy Fun Park,” “Boys in the Trees”) alongside a writing team including Enoch Mailangi, Alan Clarke, Sheppard and artistic director of Griffin Theatre, Declan Greene. Production is by Tania Chambers (“How to Please a Woman”) and Verso. International distribution is handled by Banijay Rights.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
