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Everything we know About The Survivors: Dark Secrets & Haunting Mysteries Unfold in Tasmania’s Coastal Town
A haunting new trailer has just dropped for The Survivors, and it’s nothing short of chilling. Set against jagged coastlines and storm-lashed shores, the trailer offers an atmospheric glimpse into a town unraveling under the weight of long-buried secrets. Whispers of betrayal, sharp flashes of guilt, and a body on the beach—this is not your average small-town mystery.
Backed by a powerhouse creative team and adapted from a bestselling novel, The Survivors blends moody coastal landscapes with raw human emotion. This isn’t just another crime series—it’s a slow-burning psychological storm. With a stellar cast and cinematic visuals, the show captures the eerie beauty of Tasmania and the emotional turmoil simmering beneath its surface.
Craving an unforgettable mystery? We’ve gathered everything you need to know: cast, production insights, plot details, and what makes The Survivors a must-watch drama. Keep checking back—we’re updating this guide with fresh info as it drops, so you won’t miss a thing. Something about Evelyn Bay feels off—and we’re diving deep into every shadow it’s hiding.
Release date & Where to Watch
All six episodes of the limited series The Survivors will be available to stream on Netflix starting Friday, June 6, 2025.
What is the plot of The Survivors?
Fifteen years ago, a devastating storm hit the coastal town of Evelyn Bay, leading to the deaths of two young men and the disappearance of a girl named Gabby. For Kieran Elliott, the tragedy left deep scars—he lost his older brother, Finn, and has carried the weight of guilt ever since. Now, Kieran returns to his hometown with his partner Mia Chang and their young daughter, hoping to reconnect with his ailing father and emotionally distant mother. But the past refuses to stay buried.
The discovery of a young woman’s body on the beach reopens old wounds and sets off a new investigation, one that threatens to unearth long-buried secrets, expose the truth behind Gabby’s disappearance, and reveal a killer lurking among the tight-knit community.
The Survivors is a gripping limited series based on Jane Harper’s bestselling novel. Set in the fictional Tasmanian town of Evelyn Bay, where “everyone doesn’t just know each other’s names, they know all their secrets,” (via Tudum).
“I often describe the show as a Trojan horse,” says showrunner Tony Ayres. “It’s a family melodrama disguised as a murder mystery. Because the things that are really at its heart are things like a son wanting his mother’s love and the mother who just cannot afford to give it because her whole world might fall apart,” he added.
The show delves deep into the emotional aftermath of trauma and explores how people cope with grief, guilt, and the stories they tell themselves to survive.
Who’s Starring in The Survivors?
- Charlie Vickers (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Medici) as Kieran Elliott
- Yerin Ha (Bridgerton, Halo) as Mia Chang
- Robyn Malcolm (Heartbreak High, Sweet Tooth) as Verity Elliott
- Damien Garvey (Nautilus, The Artful Dodger) as Brian Elliott
- Thom Green (Apple Cider Vinegar, Ladies in Black) as Sean Gilroy
- George Mason (Black Snow, The Power of the Dog) as Ash Carter
- Jessica De Gouw (The Union, The Crown) as Olivia Birch
- Miriama Smith (Darby and Joan, The Gone) as Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Pendlebury
- Johnny Carr (Strange Creatures, Five Bedrooms) as Detective Alex Dan
- Martin Sacks (Irreverent, Ocean Boy) as Julian Gilroy
- Julian Weeks (Apple Cider Vinegar, Prosper) as Liam Gilroy
- Shannon Berry (Fake, The Wilds) as Bronte Laidler
- Catherine McClements (Apple Cider Vinegar, Pieces of Her) as Trish Birch
- Don Hany (Neighbours, My Life Is Murder) as George Barlin
Tony Ayres reflected on the unique bond that formed among the cast during production, noting how naturally they supported one another through the show’s emotionally demanding scenes. showrunner Tony Ayres said to Tudum:
“When you get a whole bunch of human beings together, they tend to take on certain roles … But we somehow managed to get an ensemble of people together who were just there for each other and supported each other. Maybe because they all knew they had to do big emotional stuff somewhere — every role has a climactic moment. And so they were there for each other."
Is There a Trailer for The Survivors?
The trailer for The Survivors has been released, offering a gripping glimpse into the upcoming Australian mystery series. Set in the fictional coastal town of Evelyn Bay, the series follows Kieran Elliott as he returns home, only to confront haunting memories and new tragedies.
As the trailer unfolds, viewers are introduced to the town's eerie atmosphere, with visuals of rugged cliffs and stormy seas reflecting the turbulent emotions of its residents. The discovery of a young woman's body reignites past traumas, suggesting that the community's secrets are far from buried. The tension escalates with scenes of confrontations and whispered confessions, hinting at the complex web of relationships and hidden truths.
The trailer concludes with Kieran's solemn declaration: "No one knows how she died, but I'm going to find out. I won't let her be forgotten."
The haunting imagery and suspenseful score set the tone for a series that promises to delve deep into themes of grief, guilt, and the enduring impact of past events. With its atmospheric setting and compelling narrative, The Survivors is poised to be a must-watch for fans of psychological thrillers.
Is The Survivors Based on a book?
Yes, The Survivors is based on the bestselling novel by Jane Harper, known for her gripping crime fiction set against distinctively Australian landscapes. Creator Tony Ayres praised Harper for her masterful storytelling, saying to Tudum that she’s “such a great plotter of murder mysteries.”
He explains that what Harper “does so beautifully is that she creates a scaffolding in a classic murder mystery” that allows audiences to engage emotionally through the familiar structure of a “classic whodunit.”
Ayres also spoke about the show’s deeper emotional resonance: “The themes of grief and loss are something that I’ve danced around my entire career. I’ve always been interested in the way that people respond to loss because it seems to be one of the universal human conditions. We’re all going to have to deal with this at some point in our lives and sometimes at different points. It felt like a really strong thematic center for the show. But I’m also conscious that we need to give audiences a scaffolding.”
Filming Details
The Survivors was filmed primarily in Tasmania, staying true to the atmospheric setting of Evelyn Bay, the fictional coastal town where Jane Harper’s novel unfolds. While Evelyn Bay doesn’t exist, creator Tony Ayres explained to Tudum, “Evelyn Bay doesn’t actually exist. Jane [Harper] made it up out of a number of different places.”
To capture the moody and cinematic tone of the story, the production chose Eaglehawk Neck, a dramatic Tasmanian location known for its wild coastal beauty. Ayres shared, “It’s cliffs and sea caves and this pounding ocean. It really is so spectacular. What I love about [it] is that big emotions play out in this big landscape. That’s why Tasmania works so well — it’s at an emotionally operatic scale.”
Principal photography began on Dec. 19, 2023, with funding secured and support from both VicScreen and Screen Tasmania (via TV Tonight Australia).
On February 14, 2025, filming officially kicked off in Hobart, with additional scenes shot in Melbourne’s Docklands Studios, bringing both urban and rugged coastal landscapes into the visual fabric of the series (via TV Tonight Australia).
Behind the Scenes
The Survivors is an upcoming Australian limited drama series created, written, and executive produced by Tony Ayres. Produced under Tony Ayres Productions, the series is adapted from Jane Harper’s bestselling novel and brings together a powerhouse production team backed by Matchbox Pictures and Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.
The series has also received significant support from VicScreen, through the Victorian Production Fund and Victorian Digital Screen Rebate, as well as Screen Tasmania, which producers credit as essential for authentically adapting the Tasmanian-set story.
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