Alan Ritchson, Charlize Theron, Florence Pugh Lead Netflix ANZ Slate

Netflix has unveiled its impressive 2026 Australia-New Zealand slate, featuring a lineup of high-profile international productions with stars like Alan Ritchson, Charlize Theron, and Florence Pugh taking the lead.

One standout film is “War Machine,” directed by Victorian filmmaker Patrick Hughes and filmed in various Australian locations including Bright, Myrtleford, Melbourne, and Docklands Studios. The action sci-fi feature follows the final 24 hours of an elite military selection program and stars Ritchson alongside Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, and Jai Courtney. The film is set to premiere on March 6.

Charlize Theron headlines “Apex,” an action thriller directed by Baltasar Kormákur and filmed in the Blue Mountains and Canberra. The movie, also starring Taron Egerton and Eric Bana, follows a woman testing her limits in the Australian wilderness and getting caught up in a deadly game. “Apex” is set to be released on April 24.

Florence Pugh takes the lead in “East of Eden,” a contemporary reimagining of John Steinbeck’s classic novel shot in New Zealand. The limited series explores the multigenerational saga of the Trask family with a renewed focus on antihero Cathy Ames. The series features a star-studded cast including Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, and Ciarán Hinds.

The third and final season of “Heartbreak High” is set to premiere on March 25, following the graduating class of Hartley High as they navigate a revenge prank gone wrong. The series stars Ayesha Madon, James Majoos, and Chloé Hayden.

Netflix has also provided a first look at “My Brilliant Career,” an adaptation of Miles Franklin’s iconic 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.

Other Australian productions include “Allen,” a film from Ludo Studio starring T.J. Power and shot in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and “Breakers,” the first Netflix series filmed in Western Australia. “The Mosquito Bowl,” a World War II drama based on Buzz Bissinger’s book, was also filmed in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

In addition to the live-action productions, Netflix has also announced new animated series including “Stranger Things: Tales From ’85” and “Steps,” a Cinderella reimagining produced in Sydney. This impressive slate is the first overseen by Amanda Duthie, Netflix’s newly appointed content director for the region.

Duthie expressed her excitement for the diverse range of stories in the 2026 slate, highlighting the importance of local stories that are deeply specific and true to their characters and communities. Since 2021, Netflix has invested heavily in building capacity across the Australian and New Zealand screen industries, supporting emerging and underrepresented practitioners with initiatives like paid placements and training programs.