Jessica Mauboy’s next star turn is with “Windcatcher”.
The pop superstar returns to the small screen for the Stan original, set to drop next month via Unless Pictures and Every Cloud Productions.
Pitched as a feel-good flick for families and young audiences, “Windcatcher” traces the unlikely friendship between Percy Boy, newbie Keithy Cobb and the spirited Daisy Hawkins, as they join forces to capture the school sports day title from a group of grade five bullies.
Set in a small country town and arriving at Easter, Mauboy (as Aunty Cressida) stars alongside the likes of Kelton Pell, Pia Miranda, Ngali Shaw, Jessica McNamee and newcomer Lennox Monaghan.
Written by Boyd Quakawoot (“Black Snow”, “Black Comedy”) and directed by Tanith Glynn-Maloney (“Finding Jedda”, “She Who Must Be Loved”), “Windcatcher” is a co-commission with Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), for the first partnership between the organisation and a streaming platform in Australia.
Windcatcher marks Mauboy’s first film since the Wayne Blair’s award-winning “The Sapphires”, from 2012.
Mauboy launched her recording career through the medium of the small screen, initially as a contestant in the 2006 series of “Australian Idol”. The Darwin-raised artist captured the hearts of nation en route to finishing runner-up in that fourth “Idol” season.
Hits followed, and a starring role in Rachel Perkins’ “Bran Nue Dae” from 2009 alongside Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush.
Mauboy went on to make history as the first non-European solo artist to represent Australia at Eurovision in 2014, and had the distinction of representing Australia at Eurovision 2018.
Before Windcatcher sweeps onto our TVs from March 28, Mauboy will release “Yours Forever”, her fifth studio album.
Written on home soil, the 10-track set features the previously-released “Never Giving Up,” the sentimental pop number “Flashback” and the 2023 ARIA Award nominated “Give You Love” with Jason Derulo.
Mauboy warmed-up for the release with a headline spot at The Courtyard Presented by Rolling Stone for the inaugural SXSW Sydney.
“Yours Forever” is the follow-up to Mauboy’s No. 1 ARIA Album “HILDA” from 2019, and is her first full-length release with Warner Music Australia.
Across her recording career, Mauboy has notched six top 10 albums, 15 top 20 singles, four ARIA platinum LPs, 31 ARIA nominations and led both the ARIA Singles and Albums tallies.
Since 2021, Mauboy has served as a judge on Channel Seven’s “The Voice Australia”.