WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Wentworth season 8 that may influence your enjoyment in discovering the plotlines. Read at your own risk.
Pamela Rabe is going to be part of Wentworth season 8. Executive producer Jo Porter has confirmed that her return during last season's finale was not a farce as her character, Joan Ferguson, also known as the Freak, is a hundred percent back in the series.
Viewers last saw Rabe's character being buried alive in the fifth season finale. But, the producers sprung a huge surprise when the former governor-turned-prisoner appeared in Wentworth season 7 to shock even the rest of her co-stars. So, how will the writers play this out when the show returns?
Porter said, in an interview, that they were never any DNA confirmation that the person buried in the box was Joan's body in the previous seasons. And, if someone could pull off this whole ruse in Wentworth season 8, then that would be the character.
"I will say [script producer] Marcia Gardner and her writing team have once again done an incredible job of earthing the Joan story," Porter said. The writers, however, will have a lot explaining to do regarding how Joan survived her "death."
Co-actress Kate Atkinson (as Vera Bennett), expressed excitement over Rabe's return. She said that she was one of those "privy" to the big secret from the beginning and they had to keep the set well-guarded while Rabe was filming her scenes to prevent a potential leak.
Atkinson also revealed that she's not sure where the story of Wentworth season 8 will go since they have yet to begin work. However, she believes that Vera and Joan's story isn't over, and there could be a tearful reunion between friends in prison in the upcoming season.
According to What's On Netflix, production for Wentworth season 8 will begin in Victoria, Australia this late September. Marked for 20 episodes, this season will be split into two hence the first half could be on the air in Australia via Showcase by September 2020.
The show's Netflix release will immediately follow after the last episode of the batch of installments has aired on Australian television. This means that viewers outside of the Land Down Under may begin watching Wentworth season 8 by November 2020. The next half of the season, on the other hand, is expected on the air in 2021.
