Netflix is making a major push into the Australia and New Zealand market with a massive lineup of films and series for 2026. The streaming giant has assembled an impressive roster of A-list Hollywood talent for projects shot entirely on location Down Under. Leading the charge is Alan Ritchson, the star of Prime Video’s hit series Reacher, who fronts the action sci-fi film War Machine. He is joined by Oscar winner Charlize Theron in the thriller Apex and two-time Oscar nominee Florence Pugh in the highly anticipated limited series East of Eden.
The announcement came during Netflix’s first-ever upfront-style event in Australia, where the company showcased its commitment to blending globally scaled productions with deeply local stories. The 2026 slate includes everything from big-budget action films and period dramas to the final season of a beloved teen series and new projects from the creators of Bluey. This marks the beginning of a new era for Netflix in the region under newly appointed content director Amanda Duthie .
Alan Ritchson Faces Off Against a Deadly Machine in War Machine
Alan Ritchson swaps his Reacher role for military boots again in War Machine, a high-intensity sci-fi action film directed by Victorian filmmaker Patrick Hughes, known for The Hitman’s Bodyguard. The movie is set during the final 24 hours of an elite US Army Ranger selection program. What starts as a routine training exercise in the remote Australian wilderness turns into a fight for survival when the recruits accidentally activate a giant otherworldly killing machine .
Ritchson leads a strong ensemble cast that includes Hollywood veterans Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Daniel Webber. The film was shot across multiple Victorian locations, including Bright, Myrtlefield, Melbourne, and Docklands Studios. Hughes returned home to direct and co-wrote the screenplay with James Beaufort .
War Machine has already completed a limited theatrical run through Roadshow and will land on Netflix globally on March 6, 2026 .
Charlize Theron Braces the Wilderness in Apex
Charlize Theron headlines Apex, an adrenaline-pumping survival thriller directed by Baltasar Kormákur (Everest, 2 Guns). The film follows a grieving woman who travels to the Australian wilderness to test her limits, only to become ensnared in a deadly game with a ruthless predator .
Theron is joined by Taron Egerton (Kingsman) and Australian icon Eric Bana. The production filmed extensively in the Blue Mountains and Canberra, showcasing the rugged beauty of the Australian landscape. The film is produced by a powerhouse team including Peter Chernin for Chernin Entertainment, Ian Bryce for Ian Bryce Productions, and Theron herself for Secret Menu .
Viewers can catch Apex on Netflix starting April 24, 2026 .
Florence Pugh Leads a Contemporary East of Eden
Two-time Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (Little Women, Oppenheimer) takes on the iconic role of Cathy Ames in a contemporary reimagining of John Steinbeck’s classic novel East of Eden. The limited series was shot entirely in New Zealand and brings a fresh perspective to the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, with renewed focus on the morally complex antiheroine .
The series boasts an impressive cast including Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist (Challengers), Hoon Lee, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton, Ciarán Hinds, Joseph Zada, and Joe Anders. Zoe Kazan serves as co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer alongside co-showrunner Jeb Stuart (Die Hard, The Fugitive). Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre direct and executive produce .
East of Eden is expected to premiere on Netflix in the first half of 2026 .
Aussie Favorites Return with Heartbreak High Final Season and My Brilliant Career
The 2026 slate also celebrates local Australian storytelling with the return of two beloved properties. The third and final season of Heartbreak High will premiere on March 25, 2026. The International Emmy-winning series follows Hartley High’s graduating class as they navigate a revenge prank gone wrong while saying goodbye to school and hello to adulthood. The cast returns with Ayesha Madon, James Majoos, Chloé Hayden, Asher Yasbincek, and Thomas Weatherall .
Carly Heaton, executive producer at Fremantle, explained the evolution of the show’s themes:
“In season one, we explored friendship and consent. In season two, we explored masculinity. In season three, our cast are in that liminal space between childhood and adulthood, so [it’s about] responsibility and consequence, how you come into yourself and you find your own values and what that means going into the world.”
Netflix also revealed a first look at My Brilliant Career, a series adaptation of Miles Franklin’s iconic Australian novel. Filmed in Adelaide, the series stars Philippa Northeast as Sybylla, a young woman in 1901 Australia determined to become a writer despite her family’s plans to marry her off. Liz Doran adapted the screenplay, with Alyssa McClelland and Anne Renton directing for Jungle Entertainment. The series offers a modern take on the classic story, making it relevant for today’s global audience .
Bluey Creators Go Live-Action with Allen
Fans of the global phenomenon Bluey will want to pay attention to Allen, the first live-action feature from Brisbane-based Ludo Studio. Created by Daley Pearson and shot in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the film stars T.J. Power as Petey, who reunites with his long-lost best friend Allen twenty years later .
While plot details remain under wraps, an initial description teased a “heartwarming tale of friendship and adventure, set against the backdrop of a Queensland coastal town.” A new synopsis suggests: “Twenty years after Petey lost the best friend he ever had, Allen’s back…” . Duthie described the film as a “fresh, exciting examination of what it is to grow up” and confirmed it will head straight to Netflix without a theatrical release .
Antony Starr Leads Surf Drama Breakers
Antony Starr, star of The Boys, headlines Breakers, the first Netflix series to shoot in Western Australia. The drama follows two best friends from the US who go backpacking in Australia and are drawn into a seemingly perfect community of surfers led by a charismatic but mysterious figure named Brando, played by Starr .
The cast has been rounded out with D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs), Annabel Wolfe (Surviving Summer), and Oliver Edis (Gnomes) joining as series regulars. Support cast includes Heartbreak High alumni Asher Yasbincek, Sherry-Lee Watson, and Brodie Townsend, alongside David Howell, Tyroe Muhafidin (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Tom Dawson, Lu Miller, and Eliza Learmonth .
The series comes from writer-executive producer Pete Jackson and Clerkenwell Films, the company behind Baby Reindeer. Production is currently underway and will wrap in June 2026, with Mary Nighy and Ng Choon Ping directing .
Big-Screen War Drama and Unscripted Entertainment
Peter Berg directs The Mosquito Bowl, a World War II drama based on Buzz Bissinger’s book about college football stars who enlisted in the Marines following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Filmed in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the film stars Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgård, Ray Nicholson, Tom Francis, Brent Comer, and Dominic Bogart. Berg co-wrote the screenplay with Mark L. Smith and produces for Film 44 alongside Brian Grazer for Imagine Entertainment .
In unscripted territory, The Golden Ticket (previously reported as Wonka: The Golden Ticket) filmed on the Gold Coast with Eureka Productions. The competition series challenges contestants to find golden tickets and navigate games inside a retro-futuristic dreamscape inspired by Roald Dahl’s world. It’s described as a high-stakes social experiment testing players physically and mentally .
Animation Slate Includes Stranger Things and a Cinderella Twist
Animation fans have plenty to look forward to. Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is a world-extending animated series produced by Sydney-based Flying Bark Productions, with the Duffer Brothers executive producing. The series follows original characters as they fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorising their town .
Steps is an animated film from Netflix Animation Studios produced in Sydney, with animation production shared with Vancouver. The film offers a fresh twist on the Cinderella story, focusing on the “evil” stepsisters. When misunderstood Lilith (Ali Wong) is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand, she accidentally turns her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu) into a frog. Now Lilith must team up with Cinderella to save the kingdom and prove that even so-called villains deserve a happily-ever-after. Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, and Kim Lessing produce .
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A New Era for Netflix in Australia and New Zealand
This ambitious 2026 slate is the first overseen by Amanda Duthie, Netflix’s newly appointed content director for the Australia-New Zealand region. Duthie, who joined Netflix from Stan just over three months ago, leads a team that includes new content manager Katherine Slattery and content coordinator Emily O’Connell .
Duthie emphasized the importance of authentic local storytelling:
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen that local stories resonate most powerfully when they’re deeply specific, true to a character, a community or a moment in time. This 2026 slate brings together stories that differ widely in tone, scale and ambition, from every corner of the region.”
She also highlighted the symbiotic relationship between local productions and international projects filmed in the region:
“Our region plays a unique dual role as both the home of powerful local stories and a production base for ambitious global projects, and those two realities strengthen each other.”
Since 2021, Netflix has invested more than AU$10 million in building capacity across the Australian and New Zealand screen industries through paid placements, training, and development initiatives, particularly for emerging and underrepresented practitioners .
With this star-studded lineup spanning multiple genres and formats, Netflix is positioning Australia and New Zealand as key creative hubs for years to come. Whether viewers are looking for action, drama, comedy, or animation, the 2026 slate offers something for everyone.
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