The Twelve (Australian TV series)

Last updated

The Twelve
Genre Drama
Based on De twaalf by Sanne Nuyens and Bert Van Dael.
Starring
ComposerRafael May
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes19
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Hamish Lewis
  • Ian Collie
  • Ally Henville
  • Rob Gibson
Production locations
Editors
  • Mark Perry
  • Nicole La Macchia
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Fox Showcase
Release21 June 2022 (2022-06-21) 
present
Related
De Twaalf

The Twelve is an Australian television drama series on Fox Showcase that premiered on 21 June 2022. It stars Kate Mulvany, Sam Neill, Marta Dusseldorp, and Brendan Cowell. The second series aired on 11 July 2024, and in September 2024 the series was renewed for a third season. The third series would premiere on 4 August 2025. [1]

Contents

Plot

The Twelve was based on the 2019 Belgian miniseries De twaalf created by Sanne Nuyens and Bert Van Dael. [2] It follows the story of Kate Lawson, who is on trial for the alleged murder of her niece and how the twelve jurors bring their personal lives and prejudices to the courtroom. [3]

The second series focuses on Bernice Price (Kris McQuade) who was found dead on the Price property. On trial her daughter Sasha and farmhand Patrick, the tight-knit community must put aside past encounters to find out if they are guilty of her murder. [4]

The third series, Brett Colby is thrust into a murder trial that involves a long-term friend, as a mystery unravels a murder cold-case is re-opened to find answers, as the twelve jurors find themselves struggling with the life changing experience. [1]

Cast

Series 1, 2 and 3

Series 1

Series 2 and 3

Series 2

Series 3: Cape Rock Killer

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 1021 June 2022 (2022-06-21)9 August 2022 (2022-08-09)
2 811 July 2024 (2024-07-11)29 August 2024 (2024-08-29)
3 84 August 2025 (2025-08-04)22 September 2025 (2025-09-22)

Series 1 (2022)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateAus. viewers
11"Episode 1"Daniel Nettheim Sarah Walker 21 June 2022 (2022-06-21)37,000 [7]
22"Episode 2"Daniel NettheimBradford Winters28 June 2022 (2022-06-28)56,000 [8]
33"Episode 3" Greg McLean Leah Purcell 5 July 2022 (2022-07-05)51,000 [9]
44"Episode 4"Greg McLeanAnchuli Felicia King12 July 2022 (2022-07-12)46,000 [10]
55"Episode 5"Catherine Millar Tommy Murphy 19 July 2022 (2022-07-19)62,000 [11]
66"Episode 6"Catherine MillarGreg Waters26 July 2022 (2022-07-26)66,000 [12]
77"Episode 7"Sian DaviesLeah Purcell2 August 2022 (2022-08-02)62,000 [13]
88"Episode 8"Sian DaviesAnchuli Felicia King9 August 2022 (2022-08-09)47,000 [14]
99"Episode 9"Daniel NettheimSarah Walker16 August 2022 (2022-08-16)70,000 [15]
1010"Episode 10"Daniel NettheimSarah Walker23 August 2022 (2022-08-23)82,000 [16]

Series 2 (2024)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateAus. viewers
111"Episode 1"Stevie Cruz-Martin Sarah L. Walker
Story by: Andrew Anastasios & Anna Barnes & Anya Beyersdorf & Anchuli Felicia King
11 July 2024 (2024-07-11)N/A
122"Episode 2"Stevie Cruz-MartinSarah L. Walker
Story by: Andrew Anastasios & Anchuli Felicia King & Anna Barnes & Anya Beyersdorf
18 July 2024 (2024-07-18)N/A
133"Episode 3" Mark Joffe Anchuli Felicia King
Story by: Andrew Anastasios & Anna Barnes & Anya Beyersdorf & Sarah L. Walker
25 July 2024 (2024-07-25)N/A
144"Episode 4"Mark JoffeAnya Beyersdorf
Story by: Andrew Anastasios & Anchuli Felicia Kin & Anna Barnes & Sarah L. Walker
1 August 2024 (2024-08-01)N/A
155"Episode 5"Emma JacksonAnna Barnes
Story by: Andrew Anastasios & Anchuli Felicia Kin & Anya Beyersdorf & Sarah L. Walker
8 August 2024 (2024-08-08)N/A
166"Episode 6"Ben YoungSarah L. Walker
Story by: Andrew Anastasios & Anchuli Felicia King & Anna Barnes & Anya Beyersdorf
15 August 2024 (2024-08-15)N/A
177"Episode 7"Ben YoungAnchuli Felicia King
Story by: Andrew Anastasios & Anna Barnes & Anya Beyersdorf & Sarah L. Walker
22 August 2024 (2024-08-22)N/A
188"Episode 8"Ben YoungSarah L. Walker
Story by: Andrew Anastasios & Anchuli Felicia King & Anna Barnes & Anya Beyersdorf
29 August 2024 (2024-08-29)N/A

Series 3 (2025)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateAus. viewers
191"Episode 1"Madeline Gottlieb Sarah L. Walker
Story by: Matt Cameron & Hugo Johnstone-Burt & Mia Lethbrige & Sam Meikle & Adele Vuko
4 August 2025 (2025-08-04)TBD
202"Episode 2"Madeline GottliebSarah L. Walker
Story by: Matt Cameron & Hugo Johnstone-Burt & Mia Lethbrige & Sam Meikle & Adele Vuko
11 August 2025 (2025-08-11)TBD
213"Episode 3"Madeline GottliebSam Meikle
Story by: Matt Cameron & Hugo Johnstone-Burt & Mia Lethbrige & Adele Vuko & Sarah L. Walker
18 August 2025 (2025-08-18)TBD
224"Episode 4"Madeline GottliebMatt Cameron
Story by: Matt Cameron & Hugo Johnstone-Burt & Mia Lethbrige & Sam Meikle & Adele Vuko & Sarah L. Walker
25 August 2025 (2025-08-25)TBD
235"Episode 5"TBATBA1 September 2025 (2025-09-01)TBD
246"Episode 6"TBATBA8 September 2025 (2025-09-08)TBD
257"Episode 7"TBATBA15 September 2025 (2025-09-15)TBD
268"Episode 8"TBATBA22 September 2025 (2025-09-22)TBD

Production

The series is produced by Ian Collie, Rob Gibson, and Ally Henville, with executive producers Michael Brooks, Hamish Lewis, and Liz Watts. [17]

For the second series, production moved away from Sydney to Western Australia. Production of the third season remains in Western Australia. [18]

Broadcast

The first series premiered in June 2022.

The second series aired on 11 July 2024. [19]

In September 2024 the series was renewed for a third season. [18]

On 4 August 2025 the third season premiered in Australia.

Reception

Critical reception

Reviews for The Twelve were generally positive. Prior to its premiere, David Knox of website, TV Tonight , rated the series at four out of five stars and praised both the adaptation and its cast, stating that "The Twelve has been entirely adapted for Australian audiences -and the results are quite fabulous." [20] In a review from Wenlei Ma from news.com.au , she highly praised the production, commenting, "The performances and the writing are solid, the premise is compelling and the series itself has a lot of promise." [21] Craig Mathieson of The Sydney Morning Herald gave the series three and a half stars, comparing the adaptation to the original Belgian series. [22]

The series received a mixed reception in the UK. Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian rated the series at 2 out of 5 stars, praising Sam Neill and Kate Mulvany's performances, but was highly critical of the show's storyline, commenting that "there is a sense of several soapy subplots bumping against each other, but never really gelling. You are left wanting to get back to the murder, which is the most straightforward part of the story. There is little in the did-she-do-it debate that sets it apart. The 12 aren’t really the focus here, then, and even actors as seasoned as Neill and Mulvany struggle to lift it beyond the realms of a functional thriller." [23] In a review for the Evening Standard , Vicky Jessop give it 3 out of 5 stars, stating that "it’s fascinating stuff, in theory, but never gets enough time to breathe." She goes on to say "you can’t blame the show’s makers for wanting to spice up the court drama formula a little: we get so many that it can be hard to make them stand out, and this is a worthy attempt. But The Twelve ultimately fails to stick the landing. Crime lovers will find plenty to intrigue them; for the casual viewer, the jury’s very much out." [24]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 57% of critics' reviews are positive. [25]

Ratings

Series 1
No.TitleAir dateOvernight ratingsRef(s)
ViewersRank
1"Episode 1"21 June 202237,0009 [7]
2"Episode 2"28 June 202256,0003 [8]
3"Episode 3"5 July 202251,0002 [9]
4"Episode 4"12 July 202246,0004 [10]
5"Episode 5"19 July 202262,0001 [11]
6"Episode 6"26 July 202266,0002 [12]
7"Episode 7"2 August 202262,0001 [13]
8"Episode 8"9 August 202247,0003 [14]
9"Episode 9"16 August 202270,0001 [15]
10"Episode 10"23 August 202282,0001 [16]

On average, the series had a viewership of 58,000, and ranked at #3.

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryRecipientResultRef.
2022
AACTA Awards Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Kate MulvaneyNominated
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Sam NeillNominated
Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Brooke SatchwellWon
Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Brendan CowellNominated
Best Costume Design in TelevisionXanthe Huebel
(Episode 10)
Nominated
Best Direction in Drama or ComedyDaniel Nettheim
(Episode 10)
Nominated
Best Editing in TelevisionMark Perry
(Episode 10)
Nominated
Best Screenplay in Television Sarah Walker
(Episode 10)
Nominated
Best Casting Presented by Casting NetworksKirsty McGregorWon
Best Miniseries or Telefeature
  • Hamish Lewis
  • Ian Collie
  • Ally Henville
  • Rob Gibson
  • Michael Brooks
Won
AACTA Audience Choice AwardsBest ActorHazem ShammasNominated
Australian Directors' Guild Awards Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Drama Series EpisodeSian Davies
(Episode 8)
Nominated
Screen Music Awards Best Music for a Mini-Series or TelemovieRafael MayNominated
2023 TV Tonight Awards Best New Show (Aussie)The TwelveNominated
Logie Awards Most Popular Actor Sam NeillWon
Most Outstanding Actor Sam NeillNominated
Most Outstanding Actress Kate MulvanyNominated
Most Outstanding ActressMarta DusseldorpNominated
Most Outstanding Supporting Actor Hamish MichaelNominated
Most Outstanding Supporting Actress Brooke SatchwellNominated
Most Outstanding Supporting ActressPallavi ShardaWon
Most Popular Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie The TwelveNominated
Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie The TwelveWon
2025 AACTA Awards Best Lead Actor in a Drama Sam Neill Nominated [39]
Best Drama SeriesThe TwelveNominated
Best CastingThe TwelveNominated
2025Logie AwardsBest Lead Actor in a DramaSam NeillWon [40]
Best Drama ProgramThe TwelveNominated

References

  1. 1 2 Knox, David (9 July 2025). "Airdate: The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7605396/ [ user-generated source ]
  3. "The Twelve Films Pty Ltd - the Screen Guide".
  4. Knox, David (11 July 2024). "The Twelve | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  5. Knox, David (31 August 2023). "Production underway on The Twelve S2 | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. Knox, David (8 December 2024). "The Twelve season 3 cast unveiled | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  7. 1 2 Knox, David (22 June 2022). "Tuesday 21 June 2022" . Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. 1 2 Knox, David (29 June 2022). "Tuesday 28 June 2022" . Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  9. 1 2 Knox, David (6 July 2022). "Tuesday 5 July 2022" . Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  10. 1 2 Knox, David (13 July 2022). "Tuesday 12 July 2022" . Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  11. 1 2 Knox, David (20 July 2022). "Tuesday 19 July 2022" . Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  12. 1 2 Knox, David (27 July 2022). "Tuesday 26 July 2022" . Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  13. 1 2 Knox, David (3 August 2022). "Tuesday 2 August 2022" . Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  14. 1 2 Knox, David (10 August 2022). "Tuesday 9 August 2022" . Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  15. 1 2 Knox, David (17 August 2022). "Tuesday 16 August 2022" . Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. 1 2 Knox, David (24 August 2022). "Tuesday 23 August 2022" . Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  17. "Foxtel original drama the Twelve coming to Aussie screens in 2022". 27 October 2021.
  18. 1 2 Ridgen, Claire (15 September 2024). "Sam Neill happy to be returning to film The Twelve in WA". PerthNow. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  19. Knox, David (6 June 2024). "Returning The Twelve". tvtonight.com.au.
  20. Knox, David (19 June 2022). "The Twelve". TV Tonight . Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  21. Ma, Wenlei (22 June 2022). "The Twelve: Promising courtroom drama delves into the lives of jurors". news.com.au . Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  22. Mathieson, Craig (7 September 2022). "Who did it better? Our verdict on the show that sparked a major Aussie drama". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  23. Nicholson, Rebecca (16 February 2023). "The Twelve review – even Sam Neill can't save this legal melodrama". The Guardian . Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  24. Jessop, Vicky (16 February 2023). "The Twelve on ITVX review: the jury's out on this overstuffed Australian courtroom drama starring Sam Neill". Evening Standard . Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  25. "The Twelve (2022 - Present)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media.
  26. Knox, David (20 October 2022). "AACTA Awards 2022: nominees". TV Tonight . Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  27. Knox, David (20 October 2022). "AACTA Awards 2022: craft nominees". TV Tonight . Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  28. Knox, David (6 December 2022). "AACTA Industry Awards 2022: winners". TV Tonight . Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  29. "2022 AACTA Awards". aacta.org. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  30. Knox, David (4 December 2022). "2022 AACTA Audience Choice Awards: finalists". TV Tonight . Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  31. "Heartbreak High, Kat Clark, Abbie Chatfield and more, take out the 2022 AACTA Audience Choice Awards". YouTube . 16 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  32. Knox, David (10 November 2022). "Australian Directors Guild Awards 2022: nominees". TV Tonight . Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  33. Knox, David (9 December 2022). "Australian Directors Guild Awards 2022: winners". TV Tonight . Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  34. "2022 Screen Music Awards". apraamcos.com. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  35. Knox, David (18 December 2022). "TVT Awards: Voting continues for Best New Show". TV Tonight . Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  36. Knox, David (8 January 2023). "TV Tonight Awards: Best of 2022". TV Tonight . Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  37. Knox, David (19 June 2023). "TV Week Logie Awards 2023: nominees". TV Tonight . Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  38. Knox, David (30 July 2023). "Logie Awards 2023: winners". TV Tonight . Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  39. Knox, David (7 December 2024). "2025 AACTA Awards: nominations | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  40. "Logies 2025 nominees revealed! Read the full list here". www.nine.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2025.