Marton Csokas as Vic Edwards and Lila McGuire as Evonne Goolagong, photo by Ben King.
The Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks, today announced that the new miniseries Goolagong is being filmed and post-produced in Victoria.
The production will inject over $9 million into the Victorian economy and create an estimated 1300 jobs for Victorian screen workers, including 100 crew, 1200 cast and extras, and seven skills development opportunities for emerging First Peoples screen creatives and workers.
Set to broadcast on the ABC and produced by leading Victorian production company Werner Film Productions, part of BBC Studios, Goolagong has been developed with the support and participation of Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE. Evonne and her husband Roger Cawley are associate producers of the series.
Esteemed Indigenous screen leaders, director Wayne Blair (Mystery Road, Total Control), writer Steven McGregor (Sweet Country, Mystery Road: Origin), and co-producer Danielle MacLean (Emily: I Am Kam, True Colours), have joined producer Joanna Werner (The Newsreader, Dance Academy) and writer Megan Simpson Huberman (Dating the Enemy, On The Job) to bring this long-awaited dramatic portrait of Evonne Goolagong to the screen.
Rising star Lila McGuire (The Twelve) plays Evonne Goolagong with Marton Csokas (Asylum, Equalizer) as Vic Edwards, Felix Mallard (Ginny and Georgia, Turtles All The Way Down) as Roger Cawley, and Luke Carroll (Mystery Road: Origin, Scrublands season 2) as Kenny Goolagong.
Goolagong is filming on location across Melbourne and regional Victoria with dramatic tennis matches from 1970 through to 1980 being filmed on court at the spiritual home of Australian tennis, Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club and Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club, along with a purpose-built set of Wimbledon's Centre Court, which is currently under construction.
The production is also filming on location in Kyneton, Seaford, Seymour, Sunshine, Tallarook and Woodend. Post-production and visual effects work will also take place in Victoria.
Goolagong has received support from the Victorian Government through VicScreen's Victorian Production Fund and Victorian Screen Rebate.
Goolagong will premiere on ABC in 2026. The series is being sold globally by BBC Studios.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks, said, "Evonne Goolagong is one of Australia's most loved sporting champions and one of our all-time tennis greats. We're proud to support this miniseries which will bring the tennis legend's inspiring story to the screen, with a team of extraordinary First Peoples storytellers.
"This will be another production proudly made in Victoria, telling a uniquely Australian story while creating jobs for local screen workers – in metropolitan and regional areas – and boosting our state's economy."
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, "We are honoured to support some of Australia's most exciting First Peoples talent both in front of and behind the camera, including writer Steven McGregor, producer Danielle MacLean and director Wayne Blair, who will bring Evonne Goolagong's inspiring story to the screen. This is a story that will resonate with all Australians and will deepen our connection to Evonne as both First Peoples woman and athlete, and her unique strength, resilience, and vulnerability as she navigates her life's journey."
Werner Film Productions Producer Joanna Werner said, "It's a huge privilege to be bringing Evonne Goolagong's extraordinary life story to the screen — she is such an incredible inspiration for so many. From the outset, it was important to us that this series be developed with authenticity and in close collaboration with Evonne herself, and we are thrilled that she is an Associate Producer of the series along with Roger Cawley. Filming in Victoria has allowed us to tap into world-class locations, crew, and post-production talent, and we're proud to be working with such a passionate and experienced team, led by our brilliant director Wayne Blair. We're incredibly grateful to the ABC for their support in helping this project become a reality, and excited that BBC Studios will share Evonne's powerful story with audiences around the world. Evonne is a trailblazer whose story deserves to be told on this scale, and we're honoured to be part of bringing it to life."
Co-Producer Danielle MacLean said, "Goolagong will be filmed on the lands of the Boonwurrung (Bunurong), Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Taungurung Peoples of the Kulin Nations. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands and pay our respects to Elders past and present. From the very beginning, we have engaged in meaningful consultation to ensure the series honours First Nations culture, community and Country as we know this process will only enrich the production. First Nations voices are at the heart of this project, with strong representation across cast and crew."
