Written by Adolescence creator Jack Thorne, the television adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel explores themes of human nature, loss of innocence, and boyhood masculinity.
BBC Unveils First Look from Jack Thorne’s “Lord of the Flies”
BBC has unveiled the first images from its upcoming television adaptation of William Golding’s 1954 novel Lord of the Flies marking the first time the literary classic is being adapted for TV. The four-part limited series, written by Jack Thorne (Adolescence), is set to premiere in 2026.
The series follows a group of schoolboys stranded on a remote tropical island after a plane crash leaves them without adult supervision. As they struggle to survive and establish order, rivalries emerge and chaos unfolds, revealing the darker sides of human nature and the fragility of innocence.
Casting director Nina Gold, known for Game of Thrones and Baby Reindeer, held an open casting call for the project. Each episode is titled after a central character; Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack. The young ensemble includes Winston Sawyers as Ralph, Lox Pratt as Jack, David McKenna as Piggy, and Ike Talbut as Simon, supported by over 30 young actors portraying the island’s inhabitants.
Notably, Lox Pratt has also been cast as Draco Malfoy in Amazon’s upcoming Harry Potter television series.
Directed by Marc Munden, the production is being filmed on location in Malaysia and developed with support from Golding’s family. Thorne’s adaptation retains the novel’s 1950s setting on an unnamed Pacific island while expanding on the emotional and psychological dimensions of the original story.
Since its publication, Lord of the Flies has remained a cornerstone of English literature and education for over 70 years. The BBC has yet to announce an official release date for the series.