Australia has produced some unforgettable true crime stories, but few have captured the imagination of the nation quite like the legend of Brenden Abbott. Known across the country as The Postcard Bandit, Abbott became one of Australia’s most notorious fugitives during the 1990s after escaping prison and embarking on a series of audacious robberies that baffled police.
Now the gripping true story is re-imagined for the screen in RUN, a powerful new Australian crime-drama miniseries streaming on Binge and Foxtel. Featuring standout performances from George Mason, Keiynan Lonsdale, Ashleigh Cummings and Christian Byers, the series dives deep into the life, legend and consequences surrounding the man who refused to stay behind bars.
Set up by Director Ben Young, the filmmaker behind the acclaimed thriller Hounds of Love, RUN blends raw tension, cinematic storytelling and real Australian history into one of the most compelling local series in years. The result is a pulse-pounding crime saga that feels less like television and more like a feature film stretched across a gripping miniseries format. Ben explains that the project began with a deeply personal connection to the story.
“I walked into a bank once and found out it had been robbed minutes earlier by Brenden Abbott. Years later I found myself in a courtroom watching him speak. He was charismatic, intelligent and nothing like the stereotype of a bank robber.”
- Ben Young
Born in Western Australia, Abbott developed a reputation as a cunning and intelligent bank robber who repeatedly escaped custody. The nickname “The Postcard Bandit” came from Abbott reportedly sending postcards to freinds that were confiscated by police while on the run, taunting authorities during one of the country’s most unusual criminal manhunts.
The show explores not just Abbott’s crimes, but the people affected by them, And once it starts, it is
almost impossible to stop watching. RUN’s intensity comes from the collaboration between directors Ben Young, Bonnie Moir and a powerful cast, Young describes the project as something that almost seemed destined to happen. “It felt like something that was in my blood. I had this strange connection to the story long before the show even existed.”
For actor Christian Byers, the appeal of RUN was its cinematic scale and the emotional complexity of the characters. “The whole thing just feels like a movie. The directors involved are guns, and the show just goes bam from the very first episode.” RUN also benefits from a retro soundtrack and modern crime-thriller pacing.
“The score and the tone of the series create these incredible moments of tension. There’s a scene near the end of one episode where everything just clicks. You realise the show is really cooking.”
- Christian Byers
True crime has always been a powerful genre in Australia. Series like Underbelly proved that audiences are fascinated by the country’s darker history, but RUN raises the bar with cinematic direction, it captures the thrill of the chase, but also explores the human stories behind the headlines. Young went on to emphasise that the series is inspired by true events rather than a strict retelling.
“Our show is inspired by the real story. But It’s not a verbatim recreation of everything that happened.”
- Ben Young
That creative freedom allows RUN to explore the emotional and psychological layers of the story while still respecting the real events that inspired it. For Movieland viewers and crime fans alike, RUN is a must watch. If the series leaves you wanting more (like it did for us) be sure to check out the documentary exploring the real story behind Brenden Abbott: THE POSTCARD BANDIT – Also available on BINGE. The documentary provides deeper insight into the real events that inspired the series and the legend of one of Australia’s most infamous criminals.
