Source: The Public Good
Michala Banas and Brett Tucker reunite to lead an all-star cast in new eight-part crime series for TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
Filming is underway on the new eight-part crime drama Blue Murder Motel for TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+.
Shot on location around greater Auckland, Blue Murder Motel sees multi-award-winning actress Michala Banas reunite with McLeod’s Daughters co-star Brett Tucker.
Banas and Tucker lead an all-star cast as married police detectives Vanessa and Peter Coleman, who are hanging up their badges and taking early retirement from the Australian police force. Their next chapter, investing in their dream – a 13-room motel in a sunny, oceanside New Zealand town. But only one week into their new adventure, paradise takes an unexpected turn when a body is discovered in Unit 3.
Banas is celebrated for her work across television, film and theatre and has built a reputation for versatility, strength in drama and comedy, and a willingness to take on challenging roles. She is widely recognised for her role as Kate Manfredi in McLeod’s Daughters and Amber Wheeler in Upper Middle Bogan and has appeared in a variety of well known series including Nowhere Boys, Winners & Losers, Bad Mothers and Halifax: Retribution. Banas has most recently appeared in A Remarkable Place to Die, and alongside Liam Neeson in feature film Ice Road Vengeance.
“This project has such a great energy, with an incredible cast and crew. We’ve created a really lovely family unit here on set. Reuniting with Brett on this show has been loads of fun. Because of our longstanding friendship off screen, we have a great chemistry and trust with one another as actors, so that makes the work all the more special” comments Banas.
Tucker, also an acclaimed actor with an international career spanning television, film, and theatre, is best known to audiences for his roles in McLeod’s Daughters, Troppo, and The Saddle Club. Tucker has also established himself over the past 14 years in the U.S. with standout performances in Mistresses, Station 19, Castle, and Netflix series The Residence.
“The writing is clever and full of surprises, and filming in New Zealand has been an amazing experience. Filming again with Michala has been a highlight. We’ve always had a great connection, and it’s exciting to explore that again in such a different story,” Tucker comments.
Joining Banas and Tucker on screen are well-known New Zealand actors Jayden Daniels (Tangata Pai, Head High, Shortland Street), Stephanie Tauevihi (Shortland Street, The Panthers, Agent Anna) and Jaime McDermott (My Life Is Murder, Head High, Shortland Street) , as well as an array of guest cast whose performances help create this unique world, and bring additional depth and star power to the show.
Created by award-winning New Zealand writer Kate McDermott and producer Steven Zanoški, Blue Murder Motel is produced by leading drama makers Great Southern Television and will be distributed globally by About Premium Content (France).
Executive Producers for Great Southern, Kathleen Anderson and Philip Smith, say: “It’s an absolute privilege to be working with Michala Banas and Brett Tucker on Blue Murder Motel. They’re very popular amongst the cast and crew and their onscreen chemistry is unmissable”.
Emmanuelle Guilbart and Laurent Boissel, Joint CEOs and Joint Founders of APC say: “We are proud to partner with Great Southern and TVNZ for the first time and thrilled to participate in the financing of this brilliant project. We are confident that Blue Murder Motel perfectly fits the current international market’s growing appetite for glossy, warm and funny light crime series.”
It is being made with the support of NZ On Air and the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate.
Blue Murder Motel will be available to audiences in New Zealand on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ in 2026.
“We are thrilled to see another outstanding local drama series moving into production, featuring such a stellar cast and being filmed right here in our own backyard,” says Brent McAnulty, Acting Chief News and Content Officer at TVNZ.
“The continued investment in New Zealand storytelling enriches TVNZ’s line-up of local content, and we are proud to showcase the talent and stories that resonate so strongly with our audiences.”
GREAT SOUTHERN STUDIOS
Great Southern Studios is a passionate and creative production house based in Auckland, New Zealand, with a commitment to making elevated drama that reaches audiences around the world. Its recent scripted projects include Friends Like Her (Warner Bros. Discovery), n00b (Warner Bros. Discovery), Spinal Destination (Sky), and One Lane Bridge (TVNZ, AMC). Great Southern is also renowned for its social-impact factual programmes, including The Restaurant that Makes Mistakes (TVNZ), The Casketeers (TVNZ, Netflix), Coast New Zealand (TVNZ) and Coast Australia (Foxtel, BBC). Great Southern Studios is owned by writer and producer Philip Smith, winner of the 2018 NZ Television Award for Best Script: Drama and co-creator of One Lane Bridgewhich was named Best Drama Series at the 2020 NZ Television Awards.
ABOUT PREMIUM CONTENT (APC)
APC Studios is headed by experienced principals, joint-CEO & Founders Emmanuelle Guilbart and Laurent Boissel and is a global boutique producer and distributor of high-end international scripted television. APC Studio’s distribution arm About Premium Content (APC) has become one of the leading and most respected global companies in the field of international sales of TV series, with a strong focus on high-end drama. Since its creation in 2014, APC has built a curated slate of English-language and local-language fiction from a range of global producers all over the world including hit drama Keeping Faith(BBC/S4C), Man in Room 301, Deadwind (YLE), Shadow Lines (Elisa Viihde), Pandore (RTBF), Gloria (TF1), Gigantes (Movistar), The Unusual Suspects(SBS Australia), A Very Secret Service (Arte) and Valkyrien (NRK).
Created in 2020, APC Studios’ production arm APC UK recently produced two seasons of Obituary for Hulu and RTE in co-production with Magamedia, Wolffor the BBC in co-production with Hartswood Films and two series of The Light in the Hall with Long Story TV and Triongl for S4C, Channel 4 and AMC+.
TVNZ
TVNZ has been a cornerstone of Aotearoa’s media landscape since 1960 and is recognised as New Zealand’s largest network. Its portfolio includes TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2, TVNZ DUKE, and TVNZ+, the online hub for leading local and international content.
Content sits at the core of TVNZ’s operations. The network delivers a diverse and compelling schedule that caters to all New Zealanders, combining a strong commitment to local programming with a carefully curated selection of international titles.
Each TVNZ platform and channel has a distinct identity, yet their collective strength lies in their ability to work together to reach mass audiences nationwide. TVNZ engages millions of viewers every day and offers a broad range of advertising solutions designed to meet the needs of businesses across Aotearoa.
