Cameras are now rolling across Brisbane for Fortitude Valley, a six-part crime thriller commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), with the suburb lending more than just its name to the production. Filming is taking place throughout the CBD, Fortitude Valley and surrounding inner-city neighbourhoods, placing some of Brisbane’s most recognisable locations at the centre of the story.
The project, first announced by Screen Queensland, is scheduled to air on ABC TV in 2027. Since then, the production has gained additional attention with the arrival of British actor Rupert Everett, whose casting was confirmed by Variety Australia as filming entered full production.
From Brunswick Street to the Small Screen
Fortitude Valley is often associated with live music, restaurants, bars and some of Brisbane’s busiest nightlife strips. The upcoming drama takes a different approach.
Rather than treating the suburb as a simple backdrop, the production is building its story around Brisbane’s inner-city landscape. Streets, laneways and commercial precincts across the Valley are expected to feature throughout the series, giving audiences around the country a look at a part of Brisbane that continues to evolve.
By the time the series reaches television screens in 2027, many residents may find themselves recognising familiar corners of the suburb woven into the storyline.
A Story Set Between Brisbane’s Sunshine and Shadows
The drama follows a crime-focused narrative centred on family secrets, influence, long-held loyalties and hidden truths.
Production material released by ABC and covered by industry publication FilmInk describes the series as exploring the contrast between Brisbane’s bright public image and the challenges that can exist beneath the surface.
While many details remain under wraps, the story unfolds through the lives of characters played by Hunter Page-Lochard and Kat Stewart, weaving family secrets and criminal investigations through Brisbane’s inner-city landscape.
Rupert Everett Steps Into Brisbane’s Property World
The latest casting announcement has brought an international name into the production.
Rupert Everett, known for films including My Best Friend’s Wedding, has joined the cast as James Demming, a wealthy property developer whose rise began after moving from London to Brisbane in the 1980s.
Demming is described as one of the city’s most influential figures, having built substantial wealth through property development. His success places him under growing scrutiny from a determined police investigator as the story unfolds.
The Hollywood actor’s involvement adds another layer of attention to a production that was already shaping as one of ABC’s major scripted projects for 2027.
UK actor joins upcoming crime drama starring Hunter Page‑Lochard and Kat Stewart, now filming in Brisbane. https://t.co/pEl7breUtM
— TV Tonight Australia (@tvtonightau) June 8, 2026
A Growing Screen Presence for Brisbane
The arrival of Fortitude Valley comes during a period of strong activity for Queensland’s screen sector.
Screen Queensland has reported record levels of screen production across the state in recent years, with Brisbane increasingly attracting television and film projects that once would have been based elsewhere.
For now, the cameras are still rolling. But across Fortitude Valley, pieces of a future television drama are already taking shape among the suburb’s familiar streets.
Published 10-June-2026
