Oz’s biggest movie star is joining our favorite Australia-set series. Deadline reports that Nicole Kidman has signed on to Season 2 of Jane Campion’s feminist mystery series “Top of the Lake.” Elisabeth Moss (“Mad Men”) will reprise her Golden Globe-winning role from Season 1.
“Top of the Lake: China Girl” takes place four years after the events of the first season, which followed Sydney-based police detective Robin (Moss) returning to her hometown in New Zealand to investigate the disappearance of a local 12-year-old girl. Season 2 is set in Sydney and centers around an unidentified murder victim whose body turns up at Bondi Beach.
“Game of Thrones’” Gwendoline Christie has previously been confirmed for a major role in “China Girl.”
“I am very excited to be coming home to work with darling friend Jane Campion, whose work I respect and admire,” Kidman told The Daily Telegraph. She continued, “I’m also so happy to be joining the incredible Elisabeth Moss.” Kidman and Campion share a history together: the Oscar-winner starred in Campion’s 1996 adaptation of “The Portrait of a Lady.”
Campion, who co-created the series, will once again direct. This season she’ll be joined by co-director Ariel Kleiman (“Partisan”). Campion is also taking on co-writing duties with her co-creator Gerard Lee (“Sweetie”).
The first season of “Top of the Lake” was nominated for eight Emmys, including Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, an acting nod for Moss, and writing and directing nominations for Campion and Lee. It won a trophy for Best Cinematography.
Unfortunately we’ll have to wait quite some time for Season 2, which premieres on BBC Two in the U.K in 2017 and later that year in the U.S. on SundanceTV. Episodes will be available to watch on Hulu the day after they premiere on SundanceTV.