New Zealand actresses Morgana O’Reilly (The White Lotus, Friends Like Her) and Roimata Fox (A Remarkable Place To Die, The Wrecking Crew) take the lead roles in the new buddy cop series BUST UP, a collaboration between ZDF and Sky New Zealand.
The six-part crime series is produced by the award-winning New Zealand production company Lippy Pictures (The Gulf, Jean), in co-production with German partners MadeFor Film (Stromberg, How To Kill Your Sister), ZDF and ZDF Studios, which is also responsible for international distribution. Filming began at the end of May. The series is scheduled to air in 2026 on Sky Open, Neon and Sky Go. A broadcast date for ZDF is yet to be announced.
Synopsis
Reluctantly reunited: A decade after their sudden breakup, former lovers Deb (Morgana O’Reilly) and Mihi (Roimata Fox) find themselves face-to-face again—this time as colleagues at the same rural police station in New Zealand’s remote Northland region.
Returning to her secluded hometown was always part of Mihi’s life plan—working with her ex Deb was definitely not. Can the two officers survive ten-hour shifts side by side while dealing with petty crimes and serious criminals at the northernmost tip of New Zealand?
Each episode of BUST UP features a self-contained case while unfolding the layered relationship of the mismatched cop duo throughout the season. Though Deb and Mihi are convinced their partnership won’t work, it becomes increasingly clear: together, they make a formidable team.
Frank Seyberth, Head of coproduction, International Fiction, ZDF: “Sky New Zealand is an excellent partner to tell a story of this scale. That only works if you have a deep understanding for stories and team up with outstanding writers. Of course, our trusted partners from MadeFor help us to build a bridge to the other side of the world and make it all happen. We are proud to work with such amazing talent.”
Gunnar Juncken, Executive Producer and CEO of MadeFor Film: “ZDF, ZDF Studios, and Sky have been our trusted partners for many years, and we are therefore delighted to be working for the first time with Lippy Pictures and Sky New Zealand on Bust Up. This co-production not only brings an extremely entertaining format to life but also represents a wonderfully creative collaboration across continents.”
Sky New Zealand Originals Head of Commissioning, Thomas Robins: “Sky New Zealand Originals is thrilled to be working with fabulous local creatives Lippy Pictures and their German partners MadeFor Film on this wonderful series. Coproducing with the excellent team at ZDF to take this truly New Zealand show to the world is an exciting prospect.”
Paula Boock & Donna Malane of Lippy Pictures: “To make a procedural drama that showcases the diversity and beauty of Aotearoa and openly centres the attraction between two women police officers is a special opportunity and we’re proud to have the backing of Sky, ZDF and a sales team that is primed to sell it to the world. It’s been enormous fun taking the much-loved buddy cop genre out of the closet and giving it a contemporary, queer twist, while also exploring the struggles, triumphs and eccentricities that exist in bicultural communities of New Zealand. Bust Up is two parts crime, two parts drama and one part just bonkers!”
Bust Up is an international co-production by Lippy Pictures, MadeFor Film, ZDF and distribution partner ZDF Studios, in association with Sky New Zealand and, funded by NZ On Air and supported by the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate. Executive Producers are Paula Boock, Donna Malane (Lippy Pictures) and Nicole Horan, Gunnar Juncken and Katrin Goetter (MadeFor Film), Sebastian Krekeler and Sarah Eichenlaub (ZDF Studios). Claus Wunnand Frank Seyberth are responsible for ZDF as Executive Producers, with Thomas Robins, Head of Commissioning for Sky New Zealand Originals, as Executive Producer for Sky.