Award-winning The Gone returns with more murder and mystery for Kiwi Acushla Tara-Kupe and international stars Richard Flood and Michelle Fairley.
The multi award-winning local drama series The Gone makes a return tonight with its highly anticipated second season.
Starring Kiwi actor Acushla-Tara Kupe (Under the Vines, Shortland Street) and Grey’s Anatomy’s Richard Flood alongside an impressive ensemble cast including Game of Thrones’ Michelle Fairley, the New Zealand/Irish co-production promises to deliver another mysterious case to solve.
The show also features Kiwi veterans Wayne Hapi (The Dark Horse), Vanessa Rare (Shortland Street), Matt Whelan (Go Girls) and Miriama Smith (Shortland Street).
The cast spoke to TVNZ about what season 2 has in store for viewers.
The series has had a great response from viewers both here and overseas. Was there anything that stood out in terms of feedback?
Michelle – International audiences have loved seeing New Zealand as well as learning about the culture. It’s what I think a lot of viewers took away from the show, I know I did. Everybody’s performances are terrific in it, but the most interesting aspect I think, that has been reiterated time and time again by viewers, is getting to know more about Māori culture. I connected with the Buster (Hapi) and Wiki (Rare) characters, how they respect the land, and what it teaches us and I know for a fact that people I know who have watched it, they also love that aspect of it.
What was the reaction from your friends and family watching season 1?
Acushla – I lived in London for four years and when The Gone came out on the BBC, my mates from London got in touch and would say “I just saw you on the BBC!” And my husband’s mum is from Dundrum in Dublin, and he still has a lot of family over there, so it was cool getting messages and photos from them being like: “You were on a bus!” It was very exciting.
How do you enjoy filming in New Zealand?
Richard – The locations in New Zealand are incredible. Being in Te Aroha is always a highlight because it feels very much like the world of the show.
Have you been able to experience anything of New Zealand while here filming?
Michelle – I love New Zealand, it is beautiful. Last time, I went down to the South Island, and to Queenstown, which is stunning and I got to travel around a bit out into the countryside and it’s just beautiful. This time, I enjoyed Raglan and Wales Point which is just so beautiful, and to the Coromandel. When you’re not filming you like to seize the opportunity to get out and see as much as you can because your time is limited, and it’s such a beautiful country. It really is the people though. It’s a very wonderful experience and I’m very privileged and humbled to be able to experience it.
Season 2 picks up directly from the end of the first season. What was it like stepping straight back into the same storyline after a break between filming seasons?
Acushla – Detective Theo Richter (Richard) is about to board a plane home when he discovers that Irish journalist Aileen has gone missing. He immediately returns to Mt Affinity and teams back up with Diana (me) in the search to find her. For me, it’s Diana’s taonga. As soon as that goes on, I’m like, “yeah, cool – she’s here”. It took me a couple of days to really ease back into Diana but then I fully found her and I’m like, “OK there she is, we’re good”.
What can audiences expect from season 2?
Acushla – I think we’ve got a really intriguing mystery at the core of it, that isn’t your typical “dead girl in a forest” thing. It’s nuanced. We’re going into some pretty dark places with where the story takes us in series 2, and I think there’s so many times where the case kind of gets blown open all over again.
What is it like working with acclaimed international actors Richard Flood and Michelle Fairley?
Acushla – I’ve learnt so much from both of them and the years of experience they brought to the table. Just being around them, both on set and off, taught me so much about not only the craft of acting but how to be a better actor and team player as part of a much bigger machine. They’ve been incredibly generous with their advice over the past two seasons and continue to be. I actually had a lovely dinner with Michelle on my trip to London last year and we got to talk so much about the industry and life as actors. She’s definitely one of those “I want to be like her when I grow up” role models in my life.
How do you hope season 2 will be received?
Acushla – Obviously, I hope people love it as much as I do! Overall, I hope our audience enjoys delving deeper into the mysteries we set up in season 1, the new questions we raise this season, and where the wild ride takes them.
Three words to describe season 2 of The Gone….
Acushla – Deeper, darker, revealing.
The Gone returns on TVNZ1 at 8.30pm on Tuesday, February 25 and on TVNZ+.
