Australian director Emma Freeman will helm the seven-part survival drama, based on Shirley Conran’s bestselling novel ‘Savages’, with production set to begin in Queensland this year.

Netflix has greenlit Feral, a seven-part drama series starring Michelle Dockery, Jessica Gunning, Genevieve O’Reillyand Philippa Northeast, with acclaimed Australian director Emma Freeman set to helm the production in Queensland.

Based on Shirley Conran’s bestselling 1980s novel Savages, the series is described as a darkly comic survival thriller following four women whose luxury tropical holiday descends into chaos when their mining executive husbands become embroiled in dangerous business dealings.

The women, initially united only by their husbands’ professional connections, must navigate a hostile jungle environment while confronting their own rivalries, insecurities and increasingly desperate circumstances.

Dockery (Downton Abbey, Godless) will play Julia, Gunning (Baby Reindeer) stars as Annie, O’Reilly (Andor, My Brilliant Career) portrays Silvana and Northeast (Territory, My Brilliant Career) takes on the role of Suzy. Filipino actress Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness) has also joined the cast as Elena.

The series will be filmed across Queensland, using the Gold Coast’s tropical rainforests and the islands of the Whitsundays as the backdrop for its story of survival, betrayal and female resilience.

Gold Coast-born Freeman, whose credits include Clickbait, Dustfall and Two Years Later, will direct the series, which has been adapted for television by writer and executive producer Jude Mack.

“Feral is a wild, messy journey of self-discovery and it’s a complete dream to be carrying Shirley Conran’s torch alongside Hera and Netflix,” Mack said.

“I can’t wait for people to meet these funny, brutal, bold women. I’m obsessed with them and hope audiences will be too.”

The series is produced by Hera Pictures in association with Warner Bros. International Television Production, with Liza Marshall and Bria Thomas serving as executive producers for Hera Pictures. Additional executive producers include Mack, Freeman, Hamish Lewis and David Belshaw, with Laurie Borg serving as series producer.

Marshall said the adaptation would embrace both the outrageous humour and the darker elements of Conran’s original novel.

“The extraordinary female characters at the heart of the show will be pushed to extremes, behave deliciously badly and have a whole lot of fun along the way,” Marshall said.

“Emma Freeman is the perfect director to take us on the ride, and Netflix have wholeheartedly embraced the scale and ambition of the show.”

The production represents another significant international screen investment in Queensland, with the state government estimating that Feral will inject $38.5 million into the local economy and employ more than 250 cast and crew.

Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the production would also create opportunities for local businesses and emerging screen practitioners.

“The Crisafulli Government is proud to support Feral through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy — a production which will contribute an estimated $38.5 million to the local economy while employing more than 250 cast and crew,” Langbroek said.

The series will also provide training opportunities through Screen Queensland’s Attachment program, with production activity spanning South East Queensland and North Queensland.

Feral is supported by the Australian Government’s Location Offset, Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy and the Gold Coast Film Commission and Invest Gold Coast’s Screen Attraction Program.

Filming is scheduled to commence in Australia before the end of 2026. Netflix has yet to announce a release date.