Stan has announced the upcoming release of Revealed – Joh: Last King of Queensland, a new feature-length documentary examining the contentious legacy of Joh Bjelke-Petersen. The documentary will premiere on June 22, exclusively on Stan.
Directed by Kriv Stenders (The Correspondent), the film revisits Bjelke-Petersen’s 19-year tenure as Queensland Premier, marked by economic expansion and deep-rooted corruption.
The production is part of the platform’s Revealed slate and includes major investment from Screen Australia, with additional support from Screen NSW and Screen Queensland.
Actor Richard Roxburgh portrays Bjelke-Petersen in dramatized segments that underscore his distinctive mannerisms and political style. Director Kriv Stenders and Richard Roxburgh previously worked together on The Correspondent.
Richard Roxburgh as Joh Bjelke-Petersen
The documentary combines archival footage with contemporary interviews to explore the former Premier’s rise from rural roots to national prominence, and his dramatic downfall following a Royal Commission investigation.
“I grew up in Queensland, under the shadow of Joh and vividly remember the spell he cast, as well as the passionate dissent he inspired.” said director Kriv Stenders. “In making this film I came to realise that although Joh is a man of the past, his ghost still very much haunts and resounds in our present.”
Produced by WildBear Entertainment, the documentary also features insights from investigative journalist and The Australian writer Matthew Condon.
It will screen at the 2025 Sydney Film Festival, where it is a finalist for the Documentary Australia Award. International distribution is being handled by WildBear International.
Stan’s executive producers on the project are Cailah Scobie and Alicia Brown.
Revealed – Joh: Last King of Queensland premieres June 22 on Stan.