“A TV drama for the ages”: Adolescence creator gives Lord of the Flies an “emotional” edge in new adaptation

We all adored his work highlighting the issues facing teenage boys in Netflix megahit Adolescence, and now screenwriter Jack Thorne is taking on the pretty brave task of adapting William Golding's beloved debut novel - and bringing us another TV drama for the ages. That’s right, the creator is exploring boyhood again in a new BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies, and he’s set to give it an emotional edge.

If you don't already know how the story goes, it follows a group of schoolboys who are stuck on a remote desert island without any adult presence. Despite an attempt to put rules in place and organise themselves, things ultimately spiral into a power struggle, ending in chaos and violence. Jack Thorne’s adaptation is the first-ever TV rework of the classic story, so we’re incredibly excited to see it come to life!

While we eagerly await Lord of the Flies arriving on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the series, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is Lord of the Flies about?

The four-part series is an adaptation of William Golding’s brilliant 1954 novel by BAFTA-winning Jack Thorne. It follows a group of schoolboys who get stranded on a tropical island. Realising they need some semblance of organisation to survive, the castaways attempt to govern themselves, but things soon descend into total chaos.

The boys elect a leader, Ralph (Winston Sawyers) and put various rules in place - you must hold a conch shell to speak, for example. But a rival faction forms around Jack (Lox Pratt) who wants to prioritise hunting and is hungry for power. Then there’s Piggy (David McKenna), a thoughtful intellectual whose weaknesses are eventually preyed upon.

Teasing the BBC adaptation, Jack Thorne said: “I still can’t believe we have been given the opportunity to film this beautiful book. The first few days shooting show that our cast are extraordinary and that Marc is finding a whole new visual language in capturing the wonders of them and the beauty of Malaysia. He is an incredible storyteller. It is all so exciting.”

While director Marc Munden added: “This iconic novel of class, conflict and tender male friendship has never been more relevant. It’s a real privilege to be working with Jack Thorne once again, the wonderful cast of young actors we’ve assembled and the brilliant team at Eleven on this beautifully fresh adaptation.”

Eleven’s Executive Producer Joel Wilson said: “Marc is a visionary. It is a privilege to witness his skill in working with our young actors as he brings Jack’s scripts to life. The visual language he has developed with Mark Wolf, our cinematographer, would be a thing to behold in any environment... Here, capturing our excellent cast in the jungle, mountains and beaches of Malaysia, it is extraordinary. Hans [Zimmer] has already shared his first sketches for the score, which are hugely inspiring..."

BBC Drama’s director Lindsay Salt added: “We’re delighted to pass the conch to Jack Thorne, Marc Munden and this exceptionally talented young cast of stars in the making, who are telling this timeless story in such an epic and emotionally poignant way. Lord of the Flies is British storytelling at its finest and most thoughtful, and there is no better home for its first-ever television adaptation than on the BBC.”

Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie said: “One of the biggest books of the 20th century, Lord of the Flies has captivated readers for generations, is loved by millions, and this landmark adaptation is guaranteed to compel Australian audiences. Our collaboration with the BBC and the award-winning team at Eleven features a dynamic young cast from top-tier creative talent, and we look forward to sharing this impactful Stan Original Series with our audiences soon.”

Who’s in the cast of Lord of the Flies?

There’s a young cast for the BBC adaptation playing the island castaways, with many making their acting debuts. The cast of Lord of the Flies includes:

• David McKenna as Piggy
• Lox Pratt as Jack
• Winston Sawyers as Ralph
• Ike Talbut as Simon
• Thomas Connor as Roger
• Noah Flemyng as Sam
• Cassius Flemyng as Eric
• Cornelius Brandreth as Maurice
• Tom Page-Turner as Bill
• Rafael de Belligny as Robert
• Lake Coleman as Boy with Birthmark
• Freddie Lee-Grey as Percival
• Beau Thompson as Philip
• Felix Tandon
• Blake Williams
• Patrick Buckley
• Leo Weston
• Gus Turner
• Eliot Turner
• Sacha Lee-Khan
• Kai Wilson
• Xavier Edmead
• Harrison Metcalf
• Jake Miller
• Zachary Moniz
• Theo Chow
• Alfie Kiely
• Teddy Winter
• Elim Mapira

Is the book by William Golding any good?

Yes - the 1954 novel is a classic for a reason and has become one of the most popular books on the English curriculum for the last 70 years. Its themes still spark debate today - including masculinity, power and group dynamics. Golding won the Nobel Prize later in life and was knighted for his services to literature.

How can I watch Lord of the Flies?

The BBC hasn't yet shared an official release date for Lord of the Flies, but filming has been underway in Malaysia. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll share it here. While you wait, you can stream Adolescence on Netflix.

What other Jack Thorne dramas can I watch now?

We mentioned Adolescence, but there’s also The Hack, an ITV masterpiece that explores the shocking phone hacking scandal at Rupert Murdoch’s now-defunct News of the World. You can watch it on ITVX now. Jack also created and wrote Toxic Town, the shocking real-life story of the Corby poisonings, which saw children born with deformities following a botched cleanup, and the mothers fighting for justice. Starring Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood, it’s available to watch on Netflix now.