Netflix has confirmed that Allen, the new live-action family film from Ludo Studio—the Emmy and BAFTA-winning Australian studio responsible for Bluey—will premiere globally on the platform on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Alongside the date announcement, Netflix has released a short teaser that is generating significant buzz among users.
The production, originally announced under a working title that was ultimately kept as the final one, marks the first live-action feature film made entirely in Australia by Ludo Studio, following their previous collaboration with Netflix on Thou Shalt Not Steal.
What is Allen about?
Allen is an Australian family sci-fi comedy centered on a man who never quite got over his childhood encounter with an extraterrestrial. The official Netflix synopsis reveals the following:
20 years after his encounter with an alien, Petey never moved on. Now his old friend has returned, and the reason is complicated and unexpected.
The premise inevitably recalls E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but set two decades later, when the protagonist is now an adult and his best extraterrestrial friend literally lands back in his life.
Creator and co-director Daley Pearson explained, when the project entered production, that Allen is actually a story about love, family, and those big and small moments of childhood that end up defining who we are as adults. Pearson highlighted that being able to film this story in the area where he grew up, drawing inspiration from his own friends and family, has been a dream come true, and noted that the film is intended for families to enjoy together.
For her part, Minyoung Kim, Netflix's Vice President of Content for Asia-Pacific, described Ludo Studio as one of Australia's most outstanding storytelling teams and celebrated being able to offer a film designed for the whole family to enjoy.
The Allen teaser plays with audience expectations
The 26-second teaser released by Netflix is, in essence, a very well-executed visual trick. It begins with a slow, eerie shot of Earth from space, while fragmented glowing lines progressively form a title.
Anyone thinking of Ridley Scott's 1979 classic, Alien, is not wrong: that is precisely the intended reference, as the letters appear about to form the word A L I E N before rearranging themselves to reveal the actual, much more mundane title: A L L E N.
Next, a purple-toned spaceship descends over a fog-covered field at night. Petey watches as the door opens to reveal an elongated silhouette, while a robotic voice announces: Allen is back. Petey's reaction is a scream halfway between pure joy and absolute panic.
According to audience comments, many users clicked expecting to find a new project related to the Alien saga, only to discover what it was really about.
Confirmed cast of Allen
T.J. Power, known for Offspring, leads the cast as the adult version of Petey. He is joined by the following performers:
Charlotte Nicdao (Mythic Quest, Thou Shalt Not Steal) as Carly; Josh Helman (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men: Days of Future Past) as Jaden; Emily Barclay; Benedict Hardie as Rory; Kaipo Heke as Nahuel; Chaydon Jay as Roy; Danny Kim as Jim; Caitlin Niemotko as young Carly; Edward A O'Sullivan as young Petey; and Christopher Sommers as Deputy Gary Foots.
Creative team behind Allen
Allen is created by Daley Pearson, who co-directs the project alongside Jeffrey Walker, known for Apple Cider Vinegar and The Artful Dodger. Pearson co-wrote the script with Sophie Miller, writer of Thou Shalt Not Steal.
Pearson and Charlie Aspinwall serve as executive producers on behalf of Ludo Studio, alongside Miller. Sam Moor, also from Ludo Studio, and Ross Allsop serve as producers, while Lauren Brown is in charge of co-production.
When and where was Allen filmed?
Filming began in July 2025 and took place primarily in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, in the state of Queensland, Australia, including locations at Screen Queensland Studios. The story is set in a coastal town in Queensland, inspired directly by the region where Daley Pearson grew up.
The production was supported by the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland's Production Attraction Strategy and its Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Incentive.
Frequently asked questions about Allen
When does Allen premiere on Netflix?
Allen will arrive on Netflix globally on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
What is the movie Allen about?
The story follows Petey, a man who, twenty years after his childhood encounter with an alien, never managed to move on. His old extraterrestrial friend returns to his life for a complicated and unexpected reason.
Who stars in Allen?
T.J. Power plays the adult Petey, accompanied by Charlotte Nicdao as Carly, Josh Helman as Jaden, Emily Barclay, Benedict Hardie as Rory, and other performers confirmed in the cast.
Who directs and creates Allen?
Allen is created by Daley Pearson, who co-directs with Jeffrey Walker. The script was co-written by Pearson and Sophie Miller.
Where was Allen filmed?
Filming took place in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia, including Screen Queensland Studios, with the support of the Queensland Government.
Is Allen the first Ludo Studio project on Netflix?
No. Ludo Studio, known for Bluey, had previously collaborated with Netflix on Thou Shalt Not Steal. Allen marks, however, their first live-action feature film produced entirely in Australia.
