First Look: New Live-Action ‘Lord of the Flies’ Series Revealed

The BBC and Stan have shared the first images from their new adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel Lord of the Flies.

The four-part live-action series is adapted by Jack Thorne, known for Adolescence, and directed by Marc Munden, who worked on National Treasure. The production has the support of Golding’s family, and it is the first time the story will be told for television.

The series is produced by Eleven, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Stan will air the show in Australia, and Sony Pictures Television will handle international distribution.

The new images show the young cast filming on location in Malaysia. Many of the actors are making their professional debuts. Winston Sawyers plays Ralph, Lox Pratt is Jack, David McKenna plays Piggy, and Ike Talbut takes on Simon.

Other characters include Thomas Connor as Roger, twins Sam and Eric played by Noah and Cassius Flemming, Cornelius Brandreth as Maurice, and Tom Page-Turner as Bill. More than 30 boys appear as the island’s other children, divided into “biguns” and “littluns.”

Lord of the Flies, first published in 1954, tells the story of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island after a plane crash.

Ralph leads the group, trying to maintain order, while Piggy provides intellectual support. Jack, in charge of the signal fire, focuses on hunting and competing for leadership, which gradually pulls the boys away from structure and civility, leading to tragedy.

Thorne’s adaptation is said to stay true to the original novel, setting the story in the early 1950s on an unnamed Pacific island. The series will explore Golding’s themes of human nature, the loss of innocence, and boyhood masculinity in more depth. Each episode is named after one of the main characters: Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack.

“This adaptation aims to be faithful to Golding’s vision while bringing the story to life for a new audience,” a BBC spokesperson said.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!