Two new SBS Original Dramas to dominate screens in 2024

SBS commissions new intoxicating romance Four Years

Cast revealed for the deliciously dysfunctional family crime drama
Swift Street led by Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Tanzyn Crawford (Tiny Beautiful Things)

At today’s SBS Upfronts 2024, SBS and Screen Australia, in association with Screen NSW and ITV Studios are thrilled to announce the commission of a new eight-part Australian drama for 2024 – Four Years, alongside unveiling the cast of the dysfunctional family crime drama, Swift Street led by Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Tanzyn Crawford (Tiny Beautiful Things).

Continuing SBS’s streak of original and dynamic dramas, Four Years is a story of two people trying to find each other again after being separated for four years. In the spirit of Normal People, the series examines intimacy, desire, in amongst the power dynamics of a relationship.

Achingly powerful, Four Years follows the turbulent marriage of two young Indian lovers, Sridevi and Yash, through two timelines, two worlds, told through dual perspectives. Full of romance and the yearning to find someone you once loved again, in amongst the turmoils and challenges of life, this ground-breaking Australian series uses the Hindi and English languages interchangeably.

Production of the eight-part series will commence in Mumbai and Jaipur, India and Sydney NSW early next year. Four Years is created by Mithila Gupta (Five Bedrooms, Bump) and features a writing team all with South Asian heritage: Mithila, Nicole Reddy and S. Shakthidharan and will be directed by Mohini Herse (the SBS Digital Original Appetite) and Fadia Abboud (Year Of, Five Bedrooms). It will be produced by award-winning Easy Tiger Productions (Colin From Accounts, The Twelve) for SBS. Major production investment from Screen Australia and Screen NSW in association with SBS.

Also announced at today’s event, SBS unveiled the stellar cast of the fresh high-paced eight-part drama series, Swift Street, as part of SBS’s bold drama offering in 2024.

Internationally acclaimed actor Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) and rising star Tanzyn Crawford (Tiny Beautiful Things) lead the cast as dysfunctional father-daughter duo Robert and Elsie, who become partners in crime against the backdrop of bustling inner-city Melbourne.

Created and directed by incredible new talent Tig Terera (Tinashé, Chenge), the series is fast, fun, and cinematic. It’s a wildly entertaining and unapologetic story that’s full of heart.

Curtis has an extraordinary body of work in both features and television series that have reached cult status in Australia, New Zealand, and across the globe, including smash-hit films such as Avatar: The Way of Water, Traffic, Fear The Living Dead, The Insider, Fast and the Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, The Dark Horse, Training Day, Whale Rider and more. Crawford’s impressive credits include M. Night Shyamalan’s series Servant, followed by her break-out role as Kathryn Hahn’s daughter in Tiny Beautiful Things.

They are joined by a dynamic cast including Keiynan Lonsdale (Love, Simon, The Divergent Series: Insurgent), Eliza Matengu (Thor: Love and Thunder, Jack Irish), Bernie Van Tiel (Class of ‘07, and SBS drama anthology Erotic Stories) and introducing new talent Alfred Chuol in his first major television role.

Swift Street follows 21-year-old street smart and spiritually Afro-punk Elsie (Crawford) who teams up with her jaded old-school hustler father, Robert (Curtis) to get him out of debt and save him from a merciless crime boss (Matengu) who wants her money NOW. The pair embark on a series of hectic scrapes and near misses, as Elsie commits to help Robert hustle for the money. But with an unhinged gang of debt collectors on their trail, the duo must carry out a series of increasingly serious crimes against a ticking clock while fumbling through their dysfunctional relationship.

Supporting cast includes Blessing Mokgohloa, Ann Truong, Bolude Watson, Arthur Giamalidis, Arthur Angel, Elias Anton, Catherine Saun, Sepideh Kian, Jediah Vakacavu, Rahma Soliman, Ben Sofowora, Halli Okello, Amarachi Logo, Michael Logo, Alex Pinder and Miles Paras.

Producers are Magpie Pictures’ founder Lois Randall (Black Snow, Seriously Red, Grace Beside Me) who is also Executive Producer alongside Cliff Curtis, and Ivy Mak (Sydney Sleuthers).

Swift Street is a Magpie Pictures production for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS. Financed in association with VicScreen and Screen NSW. Global film and television studio Fifth Season (formerly Endeavour Content) is handling international sales of this project.

SBS Head of Scripted, Julie Eckersley said: “Both Swift St and Four Years represent an exciting new wave of Australian television. They bring fresh and exciting voices and talent into the mainstream. They are entertaining and full of heart and visually bold and distinct. There has never been such an exciting time for Australian television, and we are thrilled at SBS to be at the forefront of it.”

Screen Australia’s Head of Content, Grainne Brunsdon said: “2024 is set to be an exciting year for Australian television. With the arrival of these new vibrant and refreshing drama series, Four Years and Swift Street, audiences will be captivated by these two compelling narratives that authentically mirror modern Australia. Through a unique exploration of love and an edgy crime-drama, we’re delighted to partner with SBS to bring this amazing talent to the screen – paving the way for greater inclusivity both behind and in front of the camera.”

Producers Ian Collie and Rob Gibson of Easy Tiger Productions said: “We are so excited to be working with SBS again (previous dramas include the award-winning dramas Sunshine and The Principal) and to be collaborating with the exciting talent that is creator/writer Mithila Gupta. Four Years will be something that we rarely see on Australian television – an unashamedly romantic drama – as we follow the fortunes, passions and heartbreak that is the rollercoaster ride for our Indian newlyweds Yash and Sridevi over a four year period.”

Producers Lois Randall and Ivy Mak of Magpie Pictures said: “Swift Street will change the face of Australian television. It was an honour to work with Cliff Curtis, Tanzyn Crawford and our extraordinary cast, creatives and crew to bring Tig Terera’s edgy urban heist-escapade to life!”

Four Years and Swift Street will both premiere on SBS and SBS On Demand in 2024

For a PDF of this media release, click here.