Details of the Neighbours reboot have been teased ahead of its revival by Amazon Freevee next year.
The long-running Australian soap was recently given a lifeline by the channel after its cancellation earlier this year, and the head of content and programming for Amazon Studios has now offered a glimpse of what fans can expect.
“We’re going to do everything we have to do — in front of and behind the camera — to make sure that we’re delivering a consistent series,” Lauren Anderson told Variety.
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"We are continuing the show to at least the same level of what audiences have loved for 37 years. The most important thing to us is to make sure that those who love the show already continue to love the show," she continued.
Anderson also revealed that Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson), Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy) and Ryan Moloney (Toadie Rebecchi) would all be returning for the new series, said she the revival to be both a continuation and a fresh start.
"What we’re moving through is what do we want the arc of the first season to be? How do we create a world that’s at once a continuation and also the start of something new," she said. "The storyline in a lot of ways is going to mirror what’s happening with the series. It’s a continuation, but it’s in a new place."
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The news of the soap’s resurrection came as a surprise to both fans and stars alike, with April Rose Pengilly saying: "We were all just really shocked and confused! I’m so happy for all of you to have your show back and know you’re so excited, but it’s strange for us as we knew nothing about it."
The actress, who played Chloe Brennan, added that she didn’t know if she would reprise her role, saying a return would depend on the filming schedule: "I would love to [return]. But it depends on other projects and the circumstances. Most of the cast have left Melbourne and don’t want to go through moving again," she said.
Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.
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