# Romper Stomper (2018 TV series)

**Romper Stomper** is a six-part Australian crime drama and political thriller streaming television series, a Stan Original that continues the story of Geoffrey Wright's controversial 1992 feature film of the same name twenty-five years on. It follows a new generation of far-right activists, their Anti-Fascist counterparts, and three young Lebanese Australians caught between the conflict, and it premiered on Stan on 1 January 2018 with all six episodes released at once.<sup>[1](https://www.roadshowroughdiamond.com/news/stan-original-stan-original-series-romper-stomper-to-premiere-on-new-years-day)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network / premiere | Stan, 1 January 2018, all six episodes released at once<sup>[1](https://www.roadshowroughdiamond.com/news/stan-original-stan-original-series-romper-stomper-to-premiere-on-new-years-day)</sup> |
| Format | 6 x 60-minute episodes; year of completion 2017<sup>[2](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/romper-stomper-36033/)</sup> |
| Relationship to the film | A sequel set 25 years after the 1992 film, not a remake; original filmmaker Geoffrey Wright returned as set-up director and story producer<sup>[3](https://acmag.com.au/2017/12/01/romper-stomper/)</sup> |
| Returning cast | Jacqueline McKenzie and Dan Wyllie reprising their roles from the original film<sup>[4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/853dc30c-db71-42fb-bb47-fae56985b2e7/mr-170731-Stan-Romper-Stomper-starts-production.pdf)</sup> |
| Writers / directors | Written by Wright, James Napier Robertson, Omar Musa, and Malcolm Knox; directed by Wright, Daina Reid, and Robertson<sup>[2](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/romper-stomper-36033/)</sup> |
| Awards | 2018 TV Week Logie Award for Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie; AACTA Award for Best Sound in Television<sup>[2](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/romper-stomper-36033/)</sup> |
| Classification | MA 15+ (strong themes, violence, coarse language and sex); classified 20 December 2017; total duration 302 minutes<sup>[5](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/romper-stomper-season-1-0)</sup> |

## Spoilers

### Premise and plot

The series is a high-stakes crime drama and political thriller that explores what its producers called the human face of extremism. The series continues the themes and plot of Wright's 1992 film, centering on a new generation of right-wing activists, the Anti-Fascists who oppose them, and the multicultural makeup of a nation that both sides risk pulling apart.<sup>[4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/853dc30c-db71-42fb-bb47-fae56985b2e7/mr-170731-Stan-Romper-Stomper-starts-production.pdf)</sup> The modern-day setting trades the swastikas of the film for the southern cross (southern Cross flag, Australian nationalist symbol adopted by far right), and the far right's target has shifted from Asian immigrants to Muslim Australia.<sup>[1](https://www.roadshowroughdiamond.com/news/stan-original-stan-original-series-romper-stomper-to-premiere-on-new-years-day)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/01/romper-stomper-remake-a-modern-day-series-about-extremism-exciting-but-problematic)</sup>

The story centers on the fictional far-right group Patriot Blue, led by Blake Farron ([Lachy Hulme](https://www.edgepedia.org/lachy-hulme)), and the anarchist group Antifasc. [Toby Wallace](https://www.edgepedia.org/toby-wallace) plays Kane, a young man estranged from his mother who arrives and seizes control of Patriot Blue; C21Media reported at commissioning that the character was possibly Hando's son from the film.<sup>[7](https://www.c21media.net/news/stan-revisits-romper-stomper/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://thetvdb.com/series/romper-stomper)</sup> Nicole Chamoun plays Laila, a young Muslim student thrust into a public leadership role for her community, and Julian Maroun plays Farid, a nurse at an aged care facility.<sup>[9](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jan/05/stomping-on-stereotypes-romper-stomper-actors-on-racism-and-tv-diversity)</sup>

The six episodes, each released on 1 January 2018, are:

1. **Arrival** (55 min): Patriot Blue clashes with Antifasc at a Muslim festival; Kane's arrival disrupts the balance and ripples through his estranged family.<sup>[10](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/romper-stomper)</sup>
2. **If Blood Should Stain The Wattle** (55 min): Kane broadens Patriot Blue's mission, grows close to the leader's wife Zoe, and reconnects with his sister Cindi.<sup>[10](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/romper-stomper)</sup>
3. **Poetry** (51 min): Suspicious of Kane's rising popularity, Blake tests him; Kane makes his move to assume power and police intelligence is compromised.<sup>[10](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/romper-stomper)</sup>
4. **The Dark Heart Of Things** (51 min): Kane's takeover gathers momentum; after a failed ambush at a Patriot Blue funeral, Antifasc strikes back and racial tensions are inflamed.<sup>[10](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/romper-stomper)</sup>
5. **Chaos** (46 min): Both sides focus on George Anabasis, a centrist politician with influence over a controversial Muslim immigration bill.<sup>[10](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/romper-stomper)</sup>
6. **Anabasis** (46 min): The story concludes in real time as the competing groups converge on Anabasis, ending in violence.<sup>[10](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/romper-stomper)</sup>

## Production and development

Stan announced on 31 July 2017 that production would commence that week on what it called its biggest original local production yet, a 6-part drama continuing the story of the 1992 film released 25 years earlier.<sup>[4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/853dc30c-db71-42fb-bb47-fae56985b2e7/mr-170731-Stan-Romper-Stomper-starts-production.pdf)</sup> The series was the brainchild of Wright himself, who directed alongside Daina Reid (*The Secret River*) and New Zealand director James Napier Robertson (*The Dark Horse*). The writing team was Wright, Robertson, author, poet and rapper Omar Musa (*Here Come the Dogs*), and Walkley award-winning journalist Malcolm Knox.<sup>[4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/853dc30c-db71-42fb-bb47-fae56985b2e7/mr-170731-Stan-Romper-Stomper-starts-production.pdf)</sup>

**Financing and crew.** Roadshow Rough Diamond produced the series through [John Edwards](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-edwards) (*Love My Way*, *Puberty Blues*) and Dan Edwards, who received the bulk of its funding from Stan and Screen Australia alongside Film Victoria, while DCD Rights handled sales abroad.<sup>[4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/853dc30c-db71-42fb-bb47-fae56985b2e7/mr-170731-Stan-Romper-Stomper-starts-production.pdf)</sup> Screen Australia's contract listing records an investment of $1,133,000 dated 11 August 2017,<sup>[11](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/25cc6314-84db-4929-b36c-72be74f64757/SA-Senate-order-Listing-30-June-2018.pdf)</sup> and Film Victoria's 2017/18 program payments list records $600,000 of assigned production investment.<sup>[12](https://vicscreen.vic.gov.au/images/uploads/FVI_ProgramPaymentsListing_2017-18.pdf)</sup> Bonnie Elliott ACS was the director of photography, Josephine Ford the production designer, and Julie-Anne De Ruvo one of the editors.<sup>[2](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/romper-stomper-36033/)</sup>

## Cast

[Jacqueline McKenzie](https://www.edgepedia.org/jacqueline-mckenzie) and Dan Wyllie reprised their roles from the original film, in which McKenzie played Gabe and Wyllie played Cackles.<sup>[4](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/853dc30c-db71-42fb-bb47-fae56985b2e7/mr-170731-Stan-Romper-Stomper-starts-production.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/01/romper-stomper-remake-a-modern-day-series-about-extremism-exciting-but-problematic)</sup> The new cast included Lachy Hulme as Blake Farron, Sophie Lowe as Zoe, David Wenham as Jago Zoric, Toby Wallace as Kane, Nicole Chamoun as Laila, Lily Sullivan as Petra, Julian Maroun as Farid, and Markella Kavenagh as Cindi.<sup>[2](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/romper-stomper-36033/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/romper-stomper/cast/1000707499/)</sup> [Russell Crowe](https://www.edgepedia.org/russell-crowe)'s character Hando, killed in the final scene of the 1992 film, does not return.<sup>[6](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/01/romper-stomper-remake-a-modern-day-series-about-extremism-exciting-but-problematic)</sup>

## Release and reception

The series premiered exclusively on Stan on 1 January 2018, just over 25 years after the film's Australian cinema release on 12 November 1992.<sup>[1](https://www.roadshowroughdiamond.com/news/stan-original-stan-original-series-romper-stomper-to-premiere-on-new-years-day)</sup> Screen Australia reported that the premiere became Stan's biggest Australian premiere.<sup>[14](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/76b81824-3843-4b73-9884-f695b07fad53/mr-180122-2017-wrap-up-2018-preview.pdf)</sup> Internationally, DCD Rights sold the series to [BBC Three](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-three), which aired it in the UK in 2018,<sup>[15](https://dcdrights.com/romper-stomper-heads-to-bbc-three)</sup> and the drama was also acquired by the Starz cable network in the United States.<sup>[16](https://www.annualreports.co.uk/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/d/LSE_DCD_2018.pdf)</sup> Roadshow's FY18 results noted a second season was planned.<sup>[17](https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20180823/pdf/43xly6bvf901b7.pdf)</sup>

**Critical response.** Reception was divided. Karl Quinn in *The Age* called it "muscular, confronting and timely" and "one of the most invigorating pieces of television you will see all year," while his colleague Craig Mathieson later gave it 1/5, faulting paper-thin characters and a finale that "resolves almost nothing."<sup>[18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/romper_stomper/s01)</sup> The Guardian's Luke Buckmaster found it "achingly real and relevant" but warned that scenes of vigilante street patrols entered dangerous waters,<sup>[19](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/dec/06/in-the-wake-of-milo-yiannopoulos-tour-do-we-really-need-another-romper-stomper)</sup> and ScreenHub gave it 4 out of 5 stars.<sup>[20](https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/reviews/romper-stomper-254915-1424652/)</sup> On Rotten Tomatoes the season holds a Tomatometer of 62% from three reviews.<sup>[18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/romper_stomper/s01)</sup> Writing before broadcast, Troy Whitford, a lecturer in [Intelligence](https://www.edgepedia.org/intelligence) and Security Studies at Charles Sturt University, judged the series' depiction of how extremist groups organize, recruit, and gather intelligence on opponents realistic.<sup>[21](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-30/romper-stomper-stan-russell-crowe-skinheads-neo-nazis/9291716)</sup>

The series also drew real-world friction before it aired: the Guardian reported that the name Patriot Blue had been appropriated by a right-wing group involved in a racist incident, resulting in Stan taking legal action.<sup>[9](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jan/05/stomping-on-stereotypes-romper-stomper-actors-on-racism-and-tv-diversity)</sup>

## Awards

At the 2018 TV Week Logie Awards the series won Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie, and Jacqueline McKenzie won Most Outstanding Supporting Actress. The series also won the 2018 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award for Best Sound in [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television).<sup>[2](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/romper-stomper-36033/)</sup>

## References

1. [Stan original series Romper Stomper to premiere on New Year's Day, Roadshow Rough Diamond (17 November 2017)](https://www.roadshowroughdiamond.com/news/stan-original-stan-original-series-romper-stomper-to-premiere-on-new-years-day)
2. [Romper Stomper, Screen Australia Screen Guide](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/romper-stomper-36033/)
3. [Bonnie Elliott ACS follows far right activists in new 'Romper Stomper' series, Australian Cinematographer Magazine (1 December 2017)](https://acmag.com.au/2017/12/01/romper-stomper/)
4. [Stan commissions its biggest original local production yet, Screen Australia media release (31 July 2017)](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/853dc30c-db71-42fb-bb47-fae56985b2e7/mr-170731-Stan-Romper-Stomper-starts-production.pdf)
5. [Romper Stomper: Season 1, Australian Classification](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/romper-stomper-season-1-0)
6. [Romper Stomper remake: a modern-day series about extremism? Exciting but problematic, The Guardian (31 July 2017)](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/01/romper-stomper-remake-a-modern-day-series-about-extremism-exciting-but-problematic)
7. [Stan revisits Romper Stomper, C21Media](https://www.c21media.net/news/stan-revisits-romper-stomper/)
8. [Romper Stomper, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/series/romper-stomper)
9. [Stomping on stereotypes: Romper Stomper actors on racism and TV diversity, The Guardian (5 January 2018)](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jan/05/stomping-on-stereotypes-romper-stomper-actors-on-racism-and-tv-diversity)
10. [Watch Romper Stomper Online, Stan](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/romper-stomper)
11. [Senate Order for Entity Contracts listing, 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018, Screen Australia](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/25cc6314-84db-4929-b36c-72be74f64757/SA-Senate-order-Listing-30-June-2018.pdf)
12. [Program Payments Listing 2017/18, Film Victoria](https://vicscreen.vic.gov.au/images/uploads/FVI_ProgramPaymentsListing_2017-18.pdf)
13. [Romper Stomper - Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/romper-stomper/cast/1000707499/)
14. [2017 wrap-up and 2018 preview, Screen Australia media release (January 2018)](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/76b81824-3843-4b73-9884-f695b07fad53/mr-180122-2017-wrap-up-2018-preview.pdf)
15. [Romper Stomper heads to BBC Three, DCD Rights (18 January 2018)](https://dcdrights.com/romper-stomper-heads-to-bbc-three)
16. [DCD Media PLC annual report, year ended 31 December 2018](https://www.annualreports.co.uk/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/d/LSE_DCD_2018.pdf)
17. [VRL FY18 Results presentation, ASX announcements (23 August 2018)](https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20180823/pdf/43xly6bvf901b7.pdf)
18. [Romper Stomper: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/romper_stomper/s01)
19. [In the wake of Milo Yiannopoulos' tour, do we really need another Romper Stomper?, The Guardian (6 December 2017)](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/dec/06/in-the-wake-of-milo-yiannopoulos-tour-do-we-really-need-another-romper-stomper)
20. [Romper Stomper review, ScreenHub (8 December 2017)](https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/reviews/romper-stomper-254915-1424652/)
21. [Romper Stomper reboot is a compelling investigation into Australia's extremist politics, ABC News (30 December 2017)](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-30/romper-stomper-stan-russell-crowe-skinheads-neo-nazis/9291716)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Television series based on films › Live-action series based on films*

*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license