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- Mzansi Magic is reviving the drama series Rockville with the fifth season set to air in 2021.
- The series centres on a middle-class family and a working-class family who are locked in an ongoing feud.
- "I can confirm that Rockville is returning," said Philly Kubheka, the head of publicity at Mzansi Magic.
Drama series Rockville is being revived after five years with a new fifth season of series set to return to Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) in 2021, promising a refreshed and expanded story with new actors joining some of the established characters.
"I can confirm that Rockville is returning. For now, we are still sorting out the contractual agreements," Philly Kubheka, the head of publicity at Mzansi Magic, tells Channel24.
Rockville, executive produced by Connie and Shona Ferguson, who also had on-screen roles, launched in May 2013 on Mzansi Magic. The series ran for four seasons until 2016, contrasting the worlds of Johannesburg's glitzy northern suburbs and the Bogatsu family with the streets of Soweto, where the working class Mabaso family lives.
Rockville was the first project from Ferguson Films, the first executive producing TV vehicle for the Ferguson showrunners pair, and the first drama series for Mzansi Magic.
Although the show was never officially cancelled, ratings dipped over time; it was pushed from the Mzansi Magic schedule in favour of other newer projects over the past decade from Ferguson Films like iGazi, The Gift, The Throne, The Herd, The Queen and The Imposter. In 2020 they produced the drama series Kings of Joburg for Netflix.
READ MORE | Ferguson production Kings of Joburg coming to Netflix
On why Rockville is being revived, Philly says that DStv subscribers "showed that there is still a longing for Rockville. That is precisely why we are bringing back this local content on our screens".
Filming on the new fifth season has started, although some Rockville contractual agreements are still being sorted out. Several new faces are expected to join some of the actors returning to familiar roles for an expanded new storyline.
