Boomer might have escaped the walls of Wentworth Prison, but anyone expecting a quieter life clearly hasn’t been paying attention! UK broadcaster 5 has acquired ‘Wentworth: Beyond Bars‘, the highly anticipated sequel to Australian prison drama ‘Wentworth Prison’, with the new series set to arrive on UK screens later this year.
There’s a slight naming twist for fans who have been following the show’s development. The sequel is being produced in Australia under the title ‘Wentworth: Halfway Home’, but international distributor Fremantle is marketing it as ‘Wentworth: Beyond Bars’ outside Australia. So, if you’ve been watching the Australian trailers and wondering whether this is a different series, don’t worry, it’s the same show!
The story picks up with fan favourite Susan ‘Boomer’ Jenkins, played once again by Katrina Milosevic. Freshly released on parole, Boomer arrives at Sal’s Halfway House determined to put her prison days behind her, rebuild her life and, most importantly, regain custody of her daughter.
Of course, this being the world of ‘Wentworth Prison’, things aren’t going to be quite that straightforward.
When a body turns up, suspicion and distrust begin spreading among the residents of the halfway house. Making matters considerably worse, someone Boomer informed on to reduce her prison sentence is also back on the outside and looking for revenge. It seems getting out of prison was only half the battle. Staying out might prove considerably more difficult.
Boomer isn’t the only familiar face returning for the sequel. Nicole da Silva reprises her role as Franky Doyle, while Kate Box is back as the formidable Lou Kelly. The three returning characters find themselves navigating a world where the rules are very different from those inside Wentworth’s walls, but the dangers are just as real.
Joining the returning cast is an impressive collection of new faces, including Rachel Griffiths (‘Six Feet Under’, ‘Brothers & Sisters’) as Moira, a glamorous former beauty therapist whose high-society lifestyle came crashing down following a fraud conviction. Sophie Lowe (Beautiful Kate, Blow the Man Down) plays Sam, while Alex King and Chenile Chandler take the roles of Dee and Lily.
The wider ensemble includes Nadine Garner (‘The Doctor Blake Mysteries’), Elaine Crombie (‘Invisible Boys’), Grace Chow (‘Good Cop Bad Cop’), Sara West (‘Troppo’), Claude Jabbour (‘Last King of the Cross’), Daniel Henshall (‘The Family Next Door’), Laura Gordon (‘Watching You’), Thom Green (‘The Survivors’) and Chika Ikogwe (‘Heartbreak High’).
Speaking about the acquisition, 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,”
He continued:
“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.”
The original ‘Wentworth Prison’, known simply as ‘Wentworth’ in Australia, ran for eight seasons between 2013 and 2021, becoming an international hit and developing a particularly devoted fanbase. A modern reimagining of the classic Australian drama ‘Prisoner: Cell Block H’, the series became famous for its ruthless twists, complicated characters and willingness to kill off just about anyone when viewers least expected it.
The sequel marks the franchise’s first major return since the original concluded five years ago, and shifting the action outside the prison walls gives the writers a whole new set of problems to throw at the characters. After all, for people who have spent years surviving the brutal politics of prison life, freedom comes with its own challenges.
Production on the Fremantle Australia series began in Melbourne in July, with the drama heading to Binge in Australia later this year. The UK deal also brings the franchise back to a familiar home, as 5 and 5Star previously broadcast the original series.
An exact UK premiere date has yet to be announced, but the acquisition confirms that British viewers won’t have to wait indefinitely to find out what happens next to Boomer, Franky and Lou.
‘Wentworth: Beyond Bars‘ premieres later in 2026 on 5, with an exact UK premiere date to be confirmed.
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