McLeod’s Daughters writer hopes some of the new feature film will be shot in Tasmania

The Tasmanian writer of popular drama series McLeod’s Daughters is now focused on bringing the show back to life in a feature film and hopes some scenes will be shot here at home. Find out when it could hit screens >>

Writer Posie Graeme-Evans has revealed her plans for the McLeod’s Daughters spin-off.

Writer Posie Graeme-Evans has revealed her plans for the McLeod’s Daughters spin-off, and hopes some of the new feature film will be shot in Tasmania.

Speaking from her home in Cygnet, Ms Graeme-Evans said it had been “a mad 24 hours” since the reboot of the much-loved Australian series was announced on Wednesday, with support flooding in from across the globe.

Tasmanian writer Posie Graeme-Evans, creator of McLeod's Daughters.

“It's insane,’’ she said of the hype around The McLeods of Drovers Run movie.

“I’m stunned by the response, it’s just astonishing — it’s a tidal wave. I’m also very grateful.’’

The acclaimed writer, who created the original McLeod’s Daughters, was asked to consider a miniseries remake of the popular series three years ago, but it never eventuated.

However, she is now focused on a plan to bring the show back to life in a feature film, a project that has been kickstarted by a $20,000 grant from Screen Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government.

Writing has already begun, with Ms Graeme-Evans working with a small but high-calibre creative team, including screenwriter Emma Jensen (known for Mary Shelley and the upcoming release I am Woman — the Helen Reddy story).

McLeod's Daughters star Bridie Carter at home on her property near Byron Bay. Picture: LUKE MARSDEN

Filming is expected to begin as early as next year and — assuming the project attracts more funding — the movie could hit screens in 2022.

Some of the film will be set in Scotland — as viewers meet the original drover of Drovers Run from the 1850s — with Ms Graeme-Evans hopeful those scenes could be filmed locally.

“There’s a chance we could consider shooting the Scottish component in Tasmania,’’ she said.

The original show was filmed in South Australia.

She plans to introduce some new characters and revisit plenty of old favourites to satisfy fans of the show, which had eight successful seasons — 224 episodes — between 2001 and 2009, and is still popular on streaming services worldwide.

“You couldn’t cheat the viewers — they would kill me,’’ said Ms Graeme-Evans, who writes from an office in a rebuilt dairy on her 80ha farm at Cygnet.

“I’m not telling anybody the story yet, really. But I will say that I’m taking it in a different direction, which fans may like or not like.’’

“We think it will be a very strong story — it’s an origins story — so there’s information about the McLeods that no one knows, including us, the writers.’’