New Australian comedy horror asks if we can still laugh at Nazis
Gnomes co-writer Tegan Higginbotham is still in awe that Sex Education star Asa Butterfield flew across the world to lead an Aussie show about killer garden ornaments.
In 2026, Australia's horror-comedy genre is experiencing a surge in popularity, as evidenced by the release of the new series "Gnomes." Co-written by Tegan Higginbotham and her husband Paul F Verhoeven, the show follows the misadventures of a police duo in a small Australian town threatened by a resurrected Nazi-era gnome queen.
The series draws inspiration from classic Mel Brooks films and explores the enduring appeal of laughing at Nazis, a concern Higginbotham expressed. Despite the challenging production process, the series managed to create an army of puppet-like gnomes with special effects, garnering praise from the lead actor Asa Butterfield. Butterfield, known for his roles in "Resident Evil" and "Sex Education," was drawn to the series' writing and comedic elements.
Higginbotham attributes the success of the show to the exceptional quality of Australia's screen industry, which she believes sets it apart from other film markets. Despite the stress of the production timeline, the cast and crew maintained a positive and collaborative atmosphere, which Higginbotham believes is crucial to the success of ambitious projects.
Higginbotham believes that the timing was right for such a project to be made, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work on "Gnomes."
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