SBS has revealed the cast of a new Australian drama, “The Airport Chaplain”, led by acclaimed heavyweight Hugo Weaving and breakout star of “The Pitt” Shabana Azeez.
Currently in production in Melbourne, the eight-part series follows Tobias Wallace (played by Weaving), an airport chaplain with a constantly ringing phone, pockets full of cash and an unorthodox approach to the daily crises unfolding inside the terminal.
Convinced the airport couldn’t run without him, Tobias has never encountered a problem he couldn’t solve – until he meets his formidable new boss Mira, played by Azeez. Their clash sparks a power struggle that reverberates through the terminal, affecting the cleaners, baggage handlers and passengers, who are all navigating their own hopes and challenges amid the constant chaos of life in the airport.
Weaving and Azeez are joined by a stacked cast, including Claudia Karvan (“Bump”, “Halifax: Retribution”), Thomas Weatherall (“Heartbreak High”, “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”), Erroll Shand (“All Her Fault”, “The Twelve”), Kavitha Anandasivam (“Aftertaste”, “The Hunting”), Jackson Tozer (“The Newsreader”, “All Her Fault”), Elias Anton (“Swift Street”, “Barracuda”), Arka Das (“Fake”), Fanny Hanusin (“Wentworth”), Echo Palo (“The Correspondent”), Nicholas Denton (“Dangerous Liaisons”), George Mason (“Run”), Brenna Harding (“The Twelve”, “Total Control”), Michael Logo (“Colin From Accounts”), Priscilla Doueihy (“Baby Teeth”), Claude Jabbour (“Last King of the Cross”), Ras-Samuel (“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”) and many more.
Weaving said: “I’m delighted to be a part of this wonderful Australian drama, and to play Airport Chaplain Tobias Wallace. Joining such a talented ensemble and passionate creative team is a great pleasure, and I’m excited for audiences to immerse themselves in the incredible stories that unfold at the airport.”
Azeez added: “What an honour to be bringing such a quirky, diverse cast of characters to life, in a world we all know so well. Airports are such connective places, and The Airport Chaplain is such a timely and heartwarming story – I can’t wait for it to be on our screens.”
From award-winning Australian production company Wooden Horse, the series is co-created by Elise McCredie and Jude Troy who both serve as executive producers. It is written by Elise McCredie, Sarah Bassiuoni, Mithila Gupta, and Vidya Rajan. “The Airport Chaplain” is directed by Bonnie Moir and Tig Terera.
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SBS’ Head of Scripted, Nakul Legha said: “We’re incredibly excited to be working with this exceptional cast to bring such an ambitious and distinctive Australian drama to life. Hugo Weaving’s captivating humanity and Shabana Azeez’s fearless voice anchor a series that celebrates what binds us together.
“We can’t wait for audiences here and abroad to step into the world of ‘The Airport Chaplain’.”
“The Airport Chaplain” will premiere on SBS and SBS On Demand later this year.