After years of speculation, the next chapter of Wentworth is officially locked in, with the long rumoured spin off confirmed at the AACTA Awards on Friday night.
The announcement marks the return of one of Australia’s most successful and widely exported dramas, shifting the story beyond the prison walls while drawing on familiar characters and forging its own narrative.
The news was revealed during a Spotlight Moment at the ceremony, presented by Danielle McCormack, who played Bea Smith and confirmed a new series set in the Wentworth universe is on the way to BINGE and Foxtel.
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Addressing the room, McCormack described Wentworth as one of Foxtel’s most successful dramas, before confirming the franchise would continue with a new chapter focused on life after prison, parole, survival and the hope of renewal.
She also joked that while much loved characters will return, her own is very much done, quipping that she was “relentlessly shanked 16 times by a prison shiv”, drawing laughs from the audience and playfully downplaying any on screen comeback.
Danielle McCormack announces Wentworth: The Next Chapter during a Spotlight Moment at the AACTA Awards, confirming the long rumoured spin off is officially moving ahead (image – supplied / Getty images)
BINGE has now formally commissioned Wentworth: The Next Chapter, continuing the legacy of the Fremantle produced series which ran for eight seasons from 2013 to 2021 and became a global phenomenon, screening in more than 170 territories worldwide.
Speaking on the commission, Lana Greenhalgh, Director of Scripted Originals at Foxtel Group, said the creative team was eager to honour the show’s legacy while pushing the story forward.
“We’re incredibly proud of the legacy of Wentworth and excited to reveal what we’re creating in this bold new chapter.”
With Wentworth permanently shut down in the series finale, the spin-off will explore the unpredictable reality of life on parole, with themes of survival, resilience and second chances at its core.
The confirmation follows months of fan speculation after Katrina Milosevic hinted at a potential spin-off during a Wentworth Con event in late 2024, joking that fans might one day see Boomer’s story continue.
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Wentworth itself was a modern reimagining of Network 10’s Prisoner, the landmark drama that ran from 1979 to 1986 and helped shape Australian television, and now looks set to enter a new era.
Watch a teaser in the player below.
Wentworth: The Next Chapter will stream on BINGE and Foxtel, with further details to be announced.
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