Scrublands is an Australian drama series that is based on the novel written by Chris Hammer. Produced by Easy Tiger Productions, the first season premiered on 16 November 2023 on Stan. The series follows journalist Martin Scarsden, who is following what he believes to be a simple story on the town on the anniversary of a town tragedy. With nothing as it seems, Martin digs deep to reveal the truth behind what happened. A second season of Scrublands premiered on 17 April 2025.
Plot A small isolated town is rocked by tragedy after a local priest shoots dead five parishioners. As the community continues to grieve, journalist Martin Scarsden finds himself in town, in what he thinks will be a simple story about the tragedy. However, what unfolds after finding out the truth will push Martin to his limits.
In season two, Martin returns to his childhood town of Silver. When he returns home with his new partner Mandy, he finds his best friend dead and his partner Mandy as the main suspect, he pushes to find out the truth of what really happened, the past is dredged up in a town that has tried to keep the past in the past.
Cast and characters Main Luke Arnold as Martin Scarsden Bella Heathcote as Mandy Bond Sarah Roberts as Beth Ramachandaran Toby Truslove as Doug Monkton
Season 1 (Scrublands) Jay Ryan as Byron Swift Robert Taylor as Harley Reagan Martin Copping as Craig Landers Adam Zwar as Robbie Haws-Jones Fletcher Humphrys as Alf Newkirk
Season 2 (Scrublands: Silver) Season two cast were named when the series was renewed on 5 June 2024, with Arnold and Heathcote both reprising their roles from the first series.
Debra Lawrance as Denise Speight Luke Caroll as Scotty Waaliti / Wesley Patten as Teen Scotty Ezra Justin as Teen Martin David Roberts as Vern Jones Luke Pegler as Nick Poulos Joel Jackson as Garth McGrath Hamish Michael as Jasper Speight / Griffin Zardo as Teen Jasper Damian de Montemas as Tyson St Clair Megan Hollier as Keira Caroline Brazier as Jennifer 'Jay Jay' Hayes
Season 3 (Scrublands: Trust) Season three cast were announced on 17 July 2026 when the series was renewed for a third season.
Lincoln Younes as Tom Molloy Nicholas Bell as Max Fuller Danielle Cormack
Episodes Season 1 (2023) +No. in SeriesTitleDirected byWritten byAir dateRefChannel 9 airdateViewersRef1Episode 1Greg McLeanFelicity Packard16 November 202318 March 2025574,0002Episode 2Kelsey Munro19 March 2025510,0003Episode 3Jock Serong25 March 2025431,0004Episode 4Felicity Packard26 March 2025460,000
Season 2 (Silver) (2025) +No. in seriesTitleDirected byWritten byAir dateRef5Episode 1Ben YoungFelicity Packard17 April 20256Episode 2Fiona Kelly7Episode 3Jock Serong8Episode 4Felicity Packard
Production The series is based on the novel written by Chris Hammer. Production of the series was announced on 27 February 2023 as a joint filming commission between Stan and the Nine Network, with filming taking place in Victoria. Luke Arnold, Bella Heathcote, and Jay Ryan were cast in the lead roles. Greg McLean directed the series, with Felicity Packard, Kelsey Munro, and Jock Serong as writers. Season 1 was produced by Easy Tiger.
BBC acquired the rights to air the show in the UK. US broadcaster AMC announced in April 2024 that it had acquired the rights for the series.
In March 2024 a second season was announced. In June 2024, it was announced that filming would be moving from Victoria to Western Australia. Scrublands Season 2 was filmed in various locations across Western Australia.
On 17 July 2026, Stan announced a third series was in production, with production moving from Western Australia and filming taking place in Sydney.
Release The first season premiered on 16 November 2023 on Stan and was aired on BBC Four in the UK in the same month, it also aired on AMC from 2 May 2024.
The second season premiered on 17 April 2025. On 10 March 2025, the free-to-air channel Channel 9 announced it would be airing the first season from 18 March 2025.
Reception Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian rated the first season of the series 4 stars, saying the story can be a "bit pulpy", but that it was a rock solid addition to "rural noir". David Knox of TV Tonight also rated the series 4 stars. Knox said that while the four episodes make for a slow burn, it remained engaging with the cast and story.
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