Production is underway in Victoria on a new SBS drama, The Airport Chaplain, a locally made series that places everyday working lives at the centre of a busy international airport. The eight part drama is filming in and around Melbourne, supported by the Victorian Government and VicScreen, with organisers pointing to job creation and economic activity alongside the creative ambitions of the project.
The series features a high-profile cast led by Hugo Weaving, alongside Shabana Azeez, Claudia Karvan and Thomas Weatherall. Set against the constant movement and pressure of an airport terminal, the story follows the personal and professional lives of workers who keep the operation running, from moments of quiet reflection to times of crisis.
The concept draws from a real experience had by co-creator Jude Troy, who encountered Melbourne Airport chaplain Martyn Scrimshaw. That meeting helped shape a narrative grounded in observation rather than spectacle, focusing on human connection within a tightly controlled environment that many viewers will recognise.
According to production estimates, the series will inject more than $8 million into the Victorian economy and create around 170 jobs for local screen workers. This includes several placement opportunities aimed at building skills among emerging female practitioners. Filming is taking place on purpose-built sets designed to recreate airport interiors, with post-production and visual effects work also staying in the state.
The creative team behind the series brings together established names in Australian television. Troy co-created the project with Elise McCredie, with scripts written by McCredie, Sarah Bassiuoni, Mithila Gupta and Vidya Rajan. Direction is shared by Bonnie Moir and Tig Terera, while Troy and Alexandra Cameron serve as producers, alongside executive producers McCredie and Troy.
Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks said the project reflected the government’s ongoing support for locally inspired stories, noting its roots in real events at Melbourne Airport and the depth of experience involved both on screen and behind the camera. He pointed to the production as part of a broader effort to sustain jobs and visibility for Victoria’s screen sector.
VicScreen chief executive Caroline Pitcher described The Airport Chaplain as an ambitious drama with international appeal, highlighting the female-led creative team and the organisation’s focus on supporting voices shaping contemporary Australian storytelling.
For Troy, the series aims to alter how audiences think about airports, shifting attention from transit to the emotional lives that pass through these spaces every day. He said the intention was to present characters who connect people in ways that are often unseen, shaped by a real encounter and realised through a collaborative local production.
The Airport Chaplain is scheduled to premiere on SBS later this year. Its arrival follows other large-scale projects currently filming in Victoria, including Empire City and High Country: What Lies Beneath, as the state continues to attract a mix of domestic and international screen productions.
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