Death in Paradise spinoff reveals its first female lead, goes on floors

Anna Samson is cast as the first lead detective for Return to Paradise, a series spinoff of the Death in Paradise franchise. Death in Paradise is a British-French show from creator Robert Thorogood and is in its thirteenth season. Return to Paradise is its Australian spinoff, and its production is underway in the Illawarra region and Sydney.

Red Planet Pictures and BBC Studios Productions Australia are producing the whodunit series, consisting of six parts, for ABC in partnership with the BBC network. BBC Studios will distribute Return to Paradise globally.

The series follows detective Mackenzie Clarke (Samson) as she reluctantly goes to the town down under where she dumped her fiancé and takes on a murder case. Samson is known for such titles as Dead Lucky, Home and Away, and Wake in Fright. The ensemble cast also includes the likes of Lloyd Griffith, Tai Hara, Celia Ireland, Catherine McClements, Aaron McGrath, and Andrea Demetriades.