BBC announces casting for Lord of the Flies as filming begins on classic drama

Virgin Radio

5 Sep 2024, 11:20

One of the biggest books of the 20th century, Lord Of The Flies, is coming to the BBC and casting has been announced for one of their biggest upcoming dramas.

Based on William Golding's classic 1950's novel, the series has been adapted for the small screen by BAFTA-award winning writer Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, Enola Holmes) and directed by Marc Munden (Help, The Sympathizer), filming is now underway in Malaysia.

The drama will consist of four hour-long episodes and centres around 'a group of British boys who are stranded on an uninhabited island and their disastrous attempts to govern themselves. The novel's themes include morality, leadership, and the tension between civility and chaos'.

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Following an open casting led by multi-award winning director Nina Gold (Game of Thrones, The Power of the Dog, Baby Reindeer), the drama will star young actors with no previous experience. David McKenna will play Piggy alongside Winston Sawyers as Ralph, Lox Pratt as Jack, Isaac Talbut as Simon, and Thomas Connor as Roger.

Noah and Cassius Flemyng have been named as the twins Sam and Eric, with Cornelius Brandreth as Maurice, and Tom Page-Turner as Bill. The ensemble features more than 20 other boys playing the deadly camp’s stranded 'big ‘uns' and 'little ‘uns'.

Multi-Oscar winning composer Hans Zimmer (Dune, Planet Earth, The Lion King) is creating an original score for the series alongside multi-Emmy nominated Kara Talve (Tattooist of Auschwitz, Prehistoric Planet).

Set in the early 1950s on an unnamed Pacific island, each of the episodes will be named after one of the main characters; Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack.

Screenwriter and executive producer 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.”

“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," said director Marc Munden.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, 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.”

Filming will continue later this year in the UK.