Population 11 is a comedy drama television series that premiered on the Australian streaming service Stan on 14 March 2024. Created by Phil Lloyd and starring Ben Feldman, it is inspired by the 2017 disappearance of Paddy Moriarty in the Northern Territory;[3] it centres on Feldman's character attempting to solve the disappearance of his estranged father from a small town in the Australian outback home to only a dozen residents, who all end up as suspects.[1]

Population 11
GenreComedy-drama[1]
Crime thriller[1]
Dark comedy[2]
Created byPhil Lloyd[1]
Inspired bydisappearance of Paddy Moriarty[3]
Written byPhil Lloyd
Michael Bond
Steve Toltz
Julia Moriarty
Sarinah Masukor
Zoe Pepper[3]
Directed byTrent O'Donnell
Ben Young
Helena Brooks[1]
Creative directorTrent O'Donnell[1]
StarringBen Feldman
Perry Mooney
Katrina Milosevic
Darren Gilshenan
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes12[1]
Production
Executive producersTrent O'Donnell
Phil Lloyd
Ben Feldman
Chloe Rickard
Jason Burrows[1]
ProducersBridget Callow-Wright
Melissa Kelly
Trent O'Donnell
Phil Lloyd[4]
Production locationKimberley, Western Australia
Running time30 minutes[1]
Production companyJungle Entertainment
Original release
NetworkStan
ReleaseMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)[1]

Cast edit

Episodes edit

There were twelve 30-minute episodes, all premiered on 14 March 2024.[1]

No.Title [5]Directed by [5]Written by [5]Original release date
1"Outback UFO Tours"Trent O'DonnellPhil LloydMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
2"Stray Dogs"Trent O'DonnellPhil LloydMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
3"Who's Jeff"Trent O'DonnellSteve ToltzMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
4"Sweet 'N' Sour Dingo"Trent O'DonnellMichael BondMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
5"Confession"Ben YoungJulia MoriartyMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
6"Bunker"Ben YoungMichael BondMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
7"Earth Room"Ben YoungSarinah MasukorMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
8"The Sea"Ben YoungMichael BondMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
9"Trivia Night"Helena BrooksZoe PepperMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
10"Like Father Like Son"Helena BrooksSteve ToltzMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
11"Desert Pearls"Helena BrooksPhil LloydMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)
12"The Scorpion and the Frog"Helena BrooksPhil LloydMarch 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)

Production edit

In 2022, Stan entered an "originals development parternship" with studio Lionsgate,[6] which included the development of what was originally entitled Population: 11 as one of the first three titles to emerge from the deal.[7] It is the second programme, following Prosper, to be co-commissioned by Stan and Lionsgate.[8]

The series is produced by Jungle Entertainment in association with Factor 30 Films,[1] with major production investment from Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund (WARSF),[9] development supported by Stan, financially supported by Screen NSW,[1] and international distribution handled by Lionsgate.[3]

Nine News reported that the series' similarity to the story of the disappearance of Moriarty can be found in that both the town in which he disappeared from (Larrimah), and the town depicted in the series, both had a dozen residents - which fell to 11 - at the time, and so all "residents in the area became suspects in an ongoing police investigation".[10]

Executive producers Lloyd and O'Donnell last worked together on The Moodys.[1]

Filming edit

The show was filmed entirely in the Kimberley in Western Australia, with production commencing in mid-2023 "based out of" Derby.[9] It is the first Stan original to be filmed in Western Australia to be shown on the platform.[1]

Broadcast edit

Ahead of the series' launch on 14 March 2024, a first-look trailer was released on 31 January 2024.[1]

A premiere screening of the series was held in Luna Leederville in Perth on 10 March 2024, with many leading cast and crew in attendance.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Knox, David (31 January 2024). "Airdate: Population 11". TVTonight. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Watch Population 11 | March 14 | Only on Stan". Stan. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Keast, Jackie (31 January 2024). "Ben Feldman leads Stan and Lionsgate's 'Population 11'". If.com.au. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  4. ^ Keast, Jackie. "Population: 11 2024 - Upcoming Production Report". Screen Australia. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Population: 11 (TV Series 2024-) - Episode list". IMDb. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  6. ^ Slatter, Sean (24 March 2022). "Stan bolsters slate with seven new Originals, announces Lionsgate partnership". If.com.au. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  7. ^ Frater, Patrick (23 March 2022). "Stan Hatches Content Pact With Lionsgate, Expands Australian Originals Slate". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  8. ^ Vann-Wall, Silvi (31 January 2024). "Population 11: new WA Stan series gets release date". ScreenHub. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b Ridgen, Clare (30 January 2024). "Kimberley plays host to Population 11, a Stan series inspired by the same mystery as doco Last Stop Larrimah". The West Australian. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  10. ^ Abdullah, Immy (30 January 2023). "Ben Feldman to star in Stan's new crime series Population 11 - and you can watch the explosive trailer here". Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  11. ^ Knox, David (11 March 2024). "Population 11 world premiere". TVTonight. Retrieved 13 March 2024.

Further reading edit

External links edit