MANILA, Philippines - HBO Asia’s first original drama series Serangoon Road is premiering tonight at 9 on HBO/HBO HD. A co-production with Australian Broadcasting Corp. Television, the 10-episode hour-long detective noir series is set against the tumultuous backdrop of ’60s Singapore, when the global balance of power is shifting and Singapore is at its crossroad — a time when the British colonial rule is coming to an end and the island state can finally forge its own identity.
Serangoon Road is the heartbeat of the nation stemming from one main artery that runs through the island. Be it culture or crime, politics or patriotism, espionage or enterprise, all paths lead to Serangoon Road.
This is the world of Sam Callaghan (Australia’s Don Hany), Kang (Singapore’s Alaric Tay), Patricia Cheng (Hollywood movie star Joan Chen) and the clients aof the Cheng Detective Agency. Sam agrees to help Patricia after her husband is killed while working on a case. While Patricia may not be a detective, she knows the company needs a good investigator with contacts in the local communities, as well as among the ex-pats. Sam is all of that.
The Cheng Detective Agency’s cases range from the usual (straying spouses and petty fraudsters) to conspiracies and events with international implications.
Filmed in Singapore and Batam, Indonesia, Serangoon Road stars Hany (East West 101; Jack Irish: Black Tide) and Chen (The Home Song Stories; Red Rose, White Rose), other series regulars include Hollywood-based Chin Han, (The Dark Knight; Contagion), Singaporean talents Tay (18 Grams of Love; The Noose) and Pamelyn Chee (Little Nyonya; The Princess of Nebraska), rising Indonesian star Ario Bayu (Java Heat; Dead Mine) and a stellar Australian cast including Maeve Dermody (Rake; Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms), Rachael Blake (Wildside; Sleeping Beauty) and Michael Dorman (Daybreakers; Killer Elite). Guest stars include some of Singapore’s most prominent actors.
Serangoon Road is also available on HBO On Demand.