I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again – 2017 is shaping up to be quite a year for crime drama. One of the expected highlights is Jane Campion’s superb Top Of The Lake, which is set to return next year in an all-new location, with now an all-new suffix and all-new megastars as part of the cast. Suddenly Top Of The Lake might just have leapfrogged Twin Peaks to the, ahem, top of the must-watch list.
If you didn’t know, or haven’t seen it, the first series was set in Oscar-winner Campion’s home country of New Zealand and followed the harrowing tale of Tui, 12-year-old pregnant who tries to kill herself in a freezing New Zealand lake. Detective Robin Griffin (Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss) has plenty of questions for the girl. But when Tui suddenly disappears, Griffin finds herself knee-deep in small-town secrets. But it did more than that. Enveloped in stunning, epic scenery Top Of The Lake felt like Campion was trying to get to the heart of what it meant to be a woman. It was, at times, transcendental, important work.
Anyway. Series two will be upon us next year and it’s knee-deep in filming as I write this. Here’s what we know so far: Moss will reprise her role as Detective Robin Griffin, and this time around, she’ll be investigating a case in Harbour City, Hong Kong, with the trade also noting the new series will be “set and shot in Sydney.” So perhaps the Detective will be bouncing between locales? Jane Campion and Gerard Lee are back to write the scripts, and Campion will go behind the camera to co-direct as well, with another helmer to be named later (Garth Davis co-directed the first season).
But there’s more big news: Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman has joined the cast.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald Kidman was quoted as saying:
I’m very excited to be coming home to work with darling friend Jane Campion, whose work I respect and admire. I’m also so happy to be joining the incredible Elisabeth Moss.
Kidman is the latest Hollywood star to sign up for a TV project, and joining her in series two is British Game Of Thrones and Star Wars actress Gwendoline Christie. Two fine actresses.
The series, set in Hong Kong, also has a new name: Tope Of The Lake: China Girl.
More news as we get it, but we’re excited.
The Killing Times 