Netflix Unveils 2026 Australian & New Zealand Slate: ‘Heartbreak High’ Finale, New Florence Pugh Series, and Charlize Theron Thriller

Netflix has unveiled its 2026 slate for Australia and New Zealand, marking ten years of operations in the APAC region. The announcement, led by new Content Director for ANZ Amanda Duthie, highlights a dual strategy: investing in authentic local stories (such as the return of Heartbreak High) and leveraging Australia and New Zealand as a production hub for major global blockbusters from the US team and elsewhere.

Leading the charge is Amanda Duthie, Netflix’s new Content Director for ANZ. The 2026 slate features the final season of a global phenomenon, new adaptations of literary classics, and high-budget thrillers leveraging the region’s landscapes. In a statement, Duthie said, “This 2026 slate brings together stories that differ widely in tone, scale, and ambition, from every corner of the region. The stories are confident and curious, revisiting classics with fresh creativity, placing distinctive characters at the forefront while remaining authentic to ANZ, and where we see ourselves in the world,” continuing, “Our region plays a unique dual role as both the home of powerful local stories and a production base for ambitious global projects, and those two realities strengthen each other.”

Here is the full breakdown of everything coming to Netflix from Australia and New Zealand in 2026.

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Returning Series

Heartbreak High (Season 3) (Full Netflix Australian Original)

Coming to Netflix: March 25, 2026
Format: Scripted Series (Final Season)

The final bell is about to ring for Hartley High. In this third and concluding season, the “cum-lords” and the rest of the graduating class are saying goodbye to school and hello to adulthood. However, the transition won’t be smooth; when a revenge prank goes horribly wrong, Amerie and her friends are forced to cover up a secret or risk losing everything they have built. The series stars Ayesha Madon, James Majoos, Chloé Hayden, Asher Yasbincek, and Thomas Weatherall. It is produced by Fremantle Australia and NewBe.

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New Scripted Series

Breakers (Full Netflix Australian Original)

Coming to Netflix: 2026
Format: Scripted Drama

Produced by Clerkenwell Films (the team behind Baby Reindeer), this psychological drama explores themes of power, loyalty, and belonging. The story follows two best friends from the US who go backpacking in Australia and are drawn into a seemingly perfect, close-knit surf community led by a charismatic but mysterious figure. Filmed in Margaret River, the series features a strong cast including Antony Starr (The Boys), D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs), and Heartbreak High alumni Asher Yasbincek.

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My Brilliant Career (Full Netflix Australian Original)

Coming to Netflix: 2026
Format: Limited Series

This fresh adaptation of Miles Franklin’s iconic novel re-imagines the story for a modern audience while staying true to its 1901 setting. Filmed in South Australia, the series centers on Sybylla, a shockingly modern young woman with a searing ambition to be a writer. Faced with the choice between a safe marriage and a risky creative life, Sybylla must decide if she will throw herself to the winds of fate. The series stars Phillipa Northeast, Christopher Chung, and Genevieve O’Reilly, with Liz Doran serving as writer and adapter.

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East of Eden (Filmed in New Zealand)

Coming to Netflix: 2026 
Format: Limited Series

Filmed in New Zealand, this is a major contemporary reimagining of John Steinbeck’s classic masterpiece. The limited series explores the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, placing a renewed focus on the novel’s indelible antihero, Cathy Ames, and exploring themes of trauma and repair. The heavy-hitting cast includes Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, and Hoon Lee. Zoe Kazan and Jeb Stuart serve as co-showrunners for this Fifth Season and Anonymous Content production.

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Feature Films

War Machine (Filmed in Australia)

Coming to Netflix: March 6, 2026
Format: Action / Sci-Fi

Victorian filmmaker Patrick Hughes returns home to direct this high-intensity actioner. Set over the final 24 hours of an elite military selection program, the training exercise turns into a fight for survival when the team encounters an unimaginable threat. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Alan Ritchson (Reacher), Dennis Quaid, Jai Courtney, and Stephan James.

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Apex (Filmed in Australia)

Coming to Netflix: April 24, 2026
Format: Action Thriller

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, this survival thriller stars Charlize Theron as a grieving woman testing her limits in the Australian wilderness. She suddenly finds herself ensnared in a deadly game with a ruthless predator, turning her journey into a fight for her life. Filmed in the Blue Mountains and Canberra, the film also stars Taron Egerton and Eric Bana.

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Allen (Full Netflix Australian Original)

Coming to Netflix: 2026
Format: Family Feature

Created by Ludo Studio—the powerhouse animation team behind Bluey—this live-action feature is a heartwarming tale of friendship. Set against the backdrop of a Queensland coastal town, the story follows Petey, who reunites with his long-lost best friend, Allen, twenty years after they were separated. The film is directed by Daley Pearson and Jeffrey Walker and stars T.J. Power.

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The Mosquito Bowl (Filmed in Australia)

Coming to Netflix: 2026
Format: War Drama

Based on the true story by Buzz Bissinger, this drama is directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights). Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, four of America’s top college football stars enlist in the Marines. As they prepare for the invasion of Okinawa, they play in a legendary football game—one that will be the last for many of them. The cast includes Nicholas Galitzine and Bill Skarsgård.

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New Animation From Australia

Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85

Coming to Netflix: April 2026
Format: Animated Series

Produced by Sydney-based Flying Bark Productions, this world-extending series takes viewers back to Hawkins during the stark winter of 1985. The original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town. The voice cast includes Brooklyn Davey Norstedt (Eleven) and others reprising roles or voicing new iterations of the famous crew.

Steps

Coming to Netflix: 2026
Format: Animated Feature

From Netflix Animation Studios and produced by Amy Poehler, this film offers a fresh twist on the classic Cinderella fairytale. When misunderstood stepsister Lilith is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball, she accidentally turns her sister Margot into a frog. Lilith must team up with Cinderella and a “dreamy troll” to save the kingdom. The voice cast features Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu.

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Unscripted & Reality

Wonka: The Golden Ticket

Coming to Netflix: 2026
Format: Competition Series

Filmed on the Gold Coast by Eureka Productions, this high-stakes social experiment is set inside a retro-futuristic dreamscape. Contestants must find a coveted golden ticket to enter the factory, but entry is just the beginning. Players are challenged physically and mentally with games designed to probe their instincts and resilience in a chaotic environment.

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Which new project from Australia are you most looking forward to seeing in 2026? Let us know in the comments down below.