Australian production company Deadset Pictures is ramping up its next phase, with a fresh slate of projects now taking shape.
In an exclusive update to TV Blackbox, the company revealed progress across titles including retirement village whodunnit Dotty Whistlethorpe Investigates, family drama comedy Guncles, glossy mystery Stiletto and coastal thriller Buried No More.
Led by former Home and Away and Winners & Losers executive Dan Bennett alongside Walkley Award winning journalist and producer Steve Pennells, and launched in 2023, the pair are combining deep industry experience with a push into premium global storytelling.
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Early talent attachments signal serious intent, with Annette Badland (Ted Lasso), Ryan Kwanten linked to an Australian drama return, alongside Stephen Peacocke, Pip Northeast, Anne Tenney and Jane Hall, among the names tied to the slate.
Dan Bennett (left) and Steve Pennells (right), the team behind Deadset Pictures’ expanding slate of Australian and international projects (images – supplied)
Dan Bennett, Head of Scripted at Deadset Pictures, told TV Blackbox the company’s expanding slate reflects both ambition and momentum, highlighting the calibre of talent now engaging with the projects.
“As we move into 2026, the depth of offerings from Deadset Pictures becomes an increasing joy.”
“So, want drama? Comedy? Thriller? Campy soap? Deadset Pictures has it all covered.”
Steve Pennells, Creative and Content Director at Deadset Pictures, added to TV Blackbox that the year ahead is shaping as a significant one for the company.
“2026 is shaping up to be a very big year for Deadset Pictures.”
“We built Deadset to make bold, entertaining, slightly dangerous television, and that’s exactly where we’re headed.”
Among the projects in development:
Dotty Whistlethorpe Investigates
A sharp, irreverent murder mystery set inside a retirement village, this series follows a British expat turned amateur sleuth who refuses to mind her own business. Each episode delivers a self contained case, layered with ongoing emotional arcs and secrets bubbling beneath the surface. The tone blends warm character comedy with genuine stakes, positioning it as a broad audience whodunnit with bite.
Buried No More
A darker turn for the slate, this coastal Australian thriller follows a disgraced detective pulled back into a brutal murder case tied to decades old secrets. The series combines a high stakes investigation with a deeply personal character study, set against a remote and visually striking landscape. Designed as a returnable event series, it aims to balance procedural tension with long form narrative arcs.
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Comedy, chaos and glossy drama collide in Deadset Pictures’ slate, featuring Dotty Whistlethorpe Investigates, Guncles and Stiletto (images – supplied)
Guncles
A heartfelt drama comedy that begins the morning after a wedding, when two newlyweds suddenly become full time carers to three grieving children. The series leans into humour and emotional honesty, exploring family, loss and responsibility through a distinctly modern lens. It is pitched as a grounded, character driven story with universal appeal beyond its central couple.
Stiletto
A glossy six part mystery drama set against the reboot of a 1990s soap, where a cast reunion spirals into scandal and death. Told across dual timelines, the series blends industry satire with a layered whodunnit, culminating in a twist that reframes everything the audience thought they knew. It is positioned as a premium streaming play with strong ensemble storytelling.
There is also more still to be revealed as development continues, with Bennett noting the calibre of talent engaging with the slate continues to build.
“With world-class talent signing up to join the fun, we look forward to welcoming these projects to everyone around the world.”
Pennells added further details are still under wraps.
“There are several things we can’t announce just yet, but the calibre of people circling these projects is genuinely exciting.”
The updates come as Deadset Pictures builds on a reset last year that saw the company refocus on developing bold, original IP across drama, comedy and factual, with a clear push toward global audiences.
With multiple projects in development and global talent in the mix, there appears to be real momentum as projects progress, with more announcements expected soon.
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