Following the huge success of Australian prison drama Wentworth, which aired across 5 and 5STAR until 2021, the broadcaster has come on board for Wentworth: Beyond Bars, a continuation of the hit series exploring life beyond the prison gates, from Fremantle, which handles international sales.
For eight seasons, Wentworth took audiences behind the walls of an Australian women’s prison, where the only currency was power and survival meant trusting no one. The series became a global phenomenon and was hailed as one of the most acclaimed drama franchises of its era, selling to over 180 territories including Netflix in the US, Canada and Pan-regional Asia and Sky in Germany among others. It also inspired local adaptions in the Netherlands (Celblok H), Germany (Block B – Unter Arrest), Belgium (Gent-West) and Turkey (Avlu).
In this new instalment of the franchise, the story continues beyond the prison walls, where the world outside proves just as unforgiving as the one left behind. Fan-favourite Susan ‘Boomer’ Jenkins is finally on parole, determined to rebuild her life and reunite with her daughter. But freedom proves just as dangerous as prison when she moves into the Sally Lee Halfway House, a home full of volatile women, each with something to hide and nowhere left to run.
When one of the residents turns up dead, Boomer is thrust into a spiralling mystery that threatens to undo everything she’s fought so hard for. To make matters worse, the person Boomer ratted on to reduce her sentence is also out and determined to make her pay. As Boomer’s happily ever after with her daughter begins to slip out of reach, she’ll have to fight like hell to hold onto her dream.
Katrina Milosevic, Nicole da Silva and Kate Box return as Susan ‘Boomer’ Jenkins, Franky Doyle and Lou Kelly. They lead an ensemble cast that bring to life a volatile mix of flawed survivors thrown together under one roof, where danger, bad decisions and fierce loyalties collide with moments of heart and dark comedic chaos. Joining the cast are Rachel Griffiths (Muriel’s Wedding, Six Feet Under), Sophie Lowe (Beautiful Kate, Blow The Man Down), Alex King, who recently starred in global hit War Machine, and Chenile Chandler in her first major television role. The cast also includes newly announced Nadine Garner (High Country: What Lies Beneath, The Doctor Blake Mysteries), Elaine Crombie (Invisible Boys, Top End Bub), Grace Chow (Dog Park, Good Cop Bad Cop), Sara West (Troppo, Neighbours), Claude Jabbour (Last King of The Cross, Stateless), Daniel Henshall (Last Seen, The Family Next Door) , Laura Gordon (Watching You, Hotel Cocaine), Thom Green (The Survivors, Of An Age) and Chika Ikogwe (Heartbreak High, Land of Bad).\
Jamie Lynn, EVP Co-Production & Distribution, EMEA, Commercial and International at Fremantle, said, “Wentworth has become an enduring global drama franchise with an incredibly loyal fanbase, and Beyond Bars marks an exciting new chapter. It takes the characters and world audiences know and love in a bold new direction, while retaining the edge and intensity that have always been at the heart of the series. We’re delighted to be working with 5 to bring the franchise back to UK audiences.”
Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor at 5, said. “Katrina, Nicole and Kate have created globally iconic characters and I am delighted they are returning to start a new chapter outside of Wentworth Prison, alongside brand new characters viewers will learn to love and hate. The ultimate prize is their permanent freedom. It’s not about getting out, it’s about staying out. Beyond Bars is intense and relentless in its twists and turns. Loyal Wentworth Prison fans and new viewers will be on the edge of their seats.”
Production of the series began on Monday 27 July, 2026 in Melbourne. It will premiere in the UK exclusively on 5 later this year. In Australia, it will be available on BINGE in late 2026 with the title Wentworth: Halfway Home.
Wentworth: Beyond Bars is a Fremantle Australia production (Heartbreak High, Bay of Fires and Wentworth) for DAZN’s BINGE. Major production investment from Foxtel and Screen Australia. Financed in association with VicScreen. Australian distribution by Foxtel. International sales by Fremantle. Carly Heaton and Brett Popplewell are Executive Producers, Jessica Paine is Co-Executive Producer and Dean O’Toole is Producer. Daniel Monaghan is Executive Director of Content for Foxtel, Lana Greenhalgh and Joshua Longhurst are Executive Producers for Foxtel. Gracie Otto is Set Up Director, alongside directors Nina Buxton and Tenika Smith. Jessica Brookman is Script Editor. The writers are Jessica Paine, Kodie Bedford, Alexandra Cullen, Hannah Samuel, Alix Beane, Romina Accurso, Nikki Tran and Chris Squadrito.
