Images from Jane Campion's "Top of the Lake" series

Earlier this year, I shared the news that award-winning film director Jane Campion (The Piano, Bright Star) was helming a mystery thriller TV series set in and around the beautiful Southern Lakes area of New Zealand. It will star some terrific actors, including Oscar winner Holly Hunter (Saving Grace, The Piano), Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Lucy Lawless (Spartacus, Xena: Warrior Princess), David Wenham (The Lord of the Rings), and several other familiar faces. Campion has said about the project that: “It’s a detective story that’s very much influenced by the landscape around Glenorchy and explores ideas about paradise and community".

The fictional six-part series called "Top of the Lake" centres on detective Robin Griffin (Moss) as she loses herself investigating the disappearance of the 12-year-old pregnant daughter of a local drug lord in remote, mountainous New Zealand.  Producer Phillipa Campbell said the mystery story, written by Campion and Gerard Lee (Sweetie), was "about people living on the edge of the wilderness, so it's a psychic space in a way and that position offers up the characters opportunities and also challenges and that's what the story explores."

Now the popular Indie Wire website has shared some set photos, including the one above, along with more news about the exciting project. You can see and read more here.
 
In recent weeks filming has moved to central Queenstown. You can read more here:

• "Queenstown the star in Campion mini-series" (Stuff.co.nz, 21 March 2012)
• "Campion shoot is now 'Top of the Town'" (Mountain Scene, 20 March 2012)
• "In the Lens" (Otago Daily Times, 26 March 2012)
• "Resort takes centre stage as mini-series films in town" (Otago Daily Times, 20 March 2012)

Top of the Lake from See-Saw Films is being co-produced by UKTV in New Zealand and Australia, BBC Two in the UK and Sundance Channel in the United States.

Do you like the sound of Top of the Lake? It looks like a fairly female-centric thriller series (and Campion is known for creating stories with strong female roles) - does that appeal? Comments welcome.