Adolescence’s Co-Creator Is Making A Lord Of The Flies Show. Everything We Know About The Book-To-Screen Adaptation

The 2025 drama series Adolescence quickly became a hit on Netflix, captivating audiences with its intense story of a teenager accused of murder. It’s considered one of the year’s best shows, earning multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, including wins for limited series and writing, thanks to Jack Thorne. Now, Thorne is tackling a new challenge: bringing William Golding’s classic novel Lord of the Flies to television.

A new film adaptation of the classic novel Lord of the Flies is coming soon. This version promises to capture the book’s powerful story and emotional impact. Here’s what we’ve learned about the cast and the director’s vision for the movie.

What Is The Lord Of The Flies Premiere Date?

The BBC hasn’t announced a release date yet for its four-part adaptation of Lord of the Flies, and neither has Sony Pictures Television for the U.S. Since filming finished in 2024, it’s likely the show will air sometime in 2026. We can expect more details about when and where to watch it – including U.S. availability – in the next few months.

Lord Of The Flies Follows A Group Of Schoolchildren Stranded On An Island Following A Devastating Plane Crash

An audio adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel, Lord of the Flies, is coming soon. The story, originally published in 1954, follows a group of schoolboys who are stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. It depicts their initial efforts to create a society and maintain order, and how that quickly breaks down into chaos and violence, resulting in some incredibly disturbing moments in literature.

I’m so excited about the new BBC series of Lord of the Flies! It’s the first time the book has been adapted for TV, and they’re doing something really cool – splitting it into four episodes, each focusing on a different character: Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack. I’m especially intrigued because Jack Thorne, who wrote Adolescence and isn’t afraid of tackling tough subjects, is behind it, along with director Marc Munden. I can’t wait to see how they tell the story from each of the boys’ perspectives.

The Lord Of The Flies Cast

The characters of Lord of the Flies – Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and Simon – are essential to the story, and the new TV adaptation will feature them all. Here’s a look at the young actors the BBC has cast so far:

  • Winston Sawyers as Ralph
  • David McKenna as Piggy
  • Lox Pratt as Jack
  • Ike Talbut as Simon
  • Thomas Connor as Roger.
  • Noah and Cassius Flemyng as Sam and Eric
  • Cornelius Brandreth as Maurice
  • Tom Page-Turner as Bill

In addition to the main actors, the show will include around twenty other young performers who will be divided into groups – the older kids and the younger kids – as they try to survive on the island.

Jack Thorne Has Always Wanted To Adapt Lord Of The Flies

Jack Thorne has a diverse portfolio, having worked on shows like Adolescence, Skins, The Secret Garden, and His Dark Materials. However, adapting Lord of the Flies has always been his dream project. In a June 2025 interview with TopMob, where he discussed Adolescence and upcoming work, Thorne explained how his adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel came about.

It all began with a casual chat with Joel Wilson, the executive producer. We were just hanging out in his kitchen while our kids played together, and he asked me what book I’d always dreamed of adapting. I immediately said ‘Lord of the Flies’ – it was hugely meaningful to me growing up. He promised to make it happen, and incredibly, he did.

This highlights that simply sharing your goals with friends can help you achieve them. Given how passionate Thorne is about the book and its potential impact, we’re eagerly anticipating what happens next.

The Series Was Adapted With The Support Of William Golding’s Family

William Golding, the author of Lord of the Flies, died in 1993 at the age of 81. Because of this, the director, Thorne, couldn’t ask for his direct approval to make a new adaptation. However, Thorne and his team did contact Golding’s family and received their complete support before moving forward with the project. During a conversation with TopMob in the summer of 2025, Thorne explained how they respectfully sought the family’s blessing.

Honestly, the hardest part was convincing the book’s owners that we really understood it and would treat it with the respect it deserved. We had to show them how much we cared! Thankfully, when we pitched it to the BBC, they were immediately on board – it was a pretty quick ‘yes,’ and then we were off and running!

Given Thorne’s strong commitment to the project and his deep appreciation for the story, it’s understandable that he successfully explained his creative ideas for adapting Golding’s powerful and important novel to the family.

How To Watch Previous Lord Of The Flies Adaptations

While we wait for the new movie adaptation of Lord of the Flies directed by Thorne, you can already enjoy two other versions. Peter Brook’s 1963 film is available on HBO Max, and the 1990 adaptation by Harry Hook can be found on Howdy, Roku’s affordable streaming service.

  • Stream Lord of the Flies (1963) on HBO Max.
  • Stream Lord of the Flies (1990) on Howdy.

We’ll share more information about the Lord of the Flies movie soon, including a trailer when it’s available. In the meantime, check out our list of the best films adapted from classic books.

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2025-10-22 14:10