‘The Test’ Season 4 Among Prime Video’s New Australian Originals
Prime Video is expanding its Australian slate with a fourth season of cricket docuseries The Test and two new true‑crime series, Free Spirits: The Backpacker Poisonings and Madness of Three. The releases showcase the platform’s commitment to local storytelling and global appeal.
Amazon Prime Video is ramping up its investment in Australian content, announcing three new original docuseries that will debut on the streaming platform. The announcement includes a confirmation of a fourth season of the popular behind‑the‑scenes cricket series The Test, as well as two true‑crime projects: Free Spirits: The Backpacker Poisonings and Madness of Three.
The Test Season Four: Inside the 2026‑27 Australian Cricket Calendar
Season four of The Test will follow the Australian men’s Test cricket team through a packed 2026‑27 schedule. The series will cover the team’s challenging tours to South Africa and India, the one‑off 150th Anniversary Test against England, and the 2027 Ashes series. The new chapter arrives at a pivotal moment for the Baggy Greens, as many seasoned players are nearing the end of their careers and the team is still struggling to integrate fresh talent. The intense scrutiny from the Australian press and fans adds another layer of drama to the narrative.
Co‑produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Cricket Australia and Whooshka Media, the series will stream worldwide. While a release date has not yet been announced, viewers can expect a deep dive into the pressures, triumphs and transitions that define modern Australian cricket.
Free Spirits: The Backpacker Poisonings – A Global True‑Crime Story
Produced by Cineflix for Amazon MGM Studios, Free Spirits: The Backpacker Poisonings tells the harrowing story of eight backpackers who set out on an adventure across Southeast Asia in late 2024. Two of the travelers were Australian. The series follows the group’s chaotic bus rides, late‑night laughter and the moment everything changed after a night out in Laos, where six of the eight backpackers were found dead and one survivor was left permanently blind.
Using the backpackers’ own footage, final messages, and intimate testimony from the survivor and the victims’ families, the three‑part docuseries reconstructs the events leading up to the tragedy and the subsequent search for answers. It is positioned as more than an investigation; it is a coming‑of‑age narrative that serves as a cautionary tale about youth, risk and the pursuit of adventure in an unpredictable world.
Madness of Three – A Deep Dive into the 2022 Wieambilla Shootings
Another true‑crime offering, Madness of Three, is produced by Blackfella Films for Amazon MGM Studios. The five‑part series examines the shocking 2022 murders in Wieambilla, Queensland, where three locals – two former teachers – killed two police officers and an innocent neighbour. With unprecedented access, the series explores the conspiracy, delusion and online influence that drove the perpetrators to violence, and asks how it is possible to descend into a rabbit hole and never return.
Both true‑crime projects underscore Prime Video’s strategy of telling compelling Australian stories that resonate locally while attracting a global audience.
Prime Video’s Commitment to Australian Storytelling
“We strongly believe that to be successful globally, you need to be successful locally,” said Sarah Christie, head of Australian and New Zealand originals at Amazon MGM Studios. “These new commissions reflect our continued dedication to telling compelling Australian stories that matter – from the sporting moments that unite us, to true crime cases that gripped us locally and made headlines internationally.”
Prime Video has commissioned 34 Australian originals since 2019, spanning a wide range of genres. While the platform has adopted an Australia‑first approach, it has also produced breakout global hits such as the Jacob Elordi‑starring limited series The Narrow Road to the Deep North and the black comedy series Deadloch.
With the addition of The Test season four, Free Spirits and Madness of Three, Prime Video continues to invest in high‑quality Australian content that offers depth, authenticity and universal appeal.
What’s Next?
Viewers can anticipate the release of The Test season four once the streaming schedule is finalized. Meanwhile, the true‑crime series are poised to launch in the coming months, offering audiences a blend of investigative journalism and personal storytelling. Prime Video’s expanding Australian portfolio signals a growing confidence in local talent and narratives that can resonate worldwide.
Why it matters
Prime Video’s new Australian originals demonstrate the platform’s growing focus on authentic, locally produced stories that can captivate global audiences, reinforcing the importance of regional content in the streaming landscape.
Key points
- Prime Video confirms a fourth season of cricket docuseries The Test
- Two new true‑crime series: Free Spirits and Madness of Three
- The Test follows Australia’s 2026‑27 cricket schedule and team transition
- Free Spirits tells the story of backpacker poisonings in Southeast Asia
- Madness of Three examines the 2022 Wieambilla shootings in Queensland
- Amazon MGM Studios emphasizes local success for global reach
Frequently asked questions
When will The Test season four be released?
A release date has not yet been announced, but the series will stream globally on Prime Video.
What is the focus of Free Spirits?
It follows the tragic backpacker poisonings in Laos in 2024, using the travelers’ own footage and survivor testimony.
Who produced Madness of Three?
Blackfella Films produced the series for Amazon MGM Studios.
