William Golding’s iconic novel Lord of the Flies is set to be adapted for television for the very first time, and the search for young talent to fill the roles has officially begun. Producer Eleven, known for hit shows like “Sex Education” and “Ten Pound Poms,” has announced an open call for boys aged between 10 and 13 to audition for this highly anticipated four-part drama. Shooting is scheduled to commence in Australia starting April 2024.
The casting process will be led by the renowned and BAFTA award-winning casting director Nina Gold. Gold, known for her work on acclaimed titles such as “Game of Thrones,” “The Crown,” and the recent “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” also cast the BAFTA-winning film “The Power of the Dog,” which received multiple nominations at the 2022 Oscars.
The production team is specifically looking for children within the age range of 10 to 13 to portray the main characters in this exciting adaptation of Lord of the Flies. The series aims to stay faithful to the classic book and its portrayal of the characters. No prior acting experience is required.
Parents and guardians are invited to apply on behalf of their children by sending an email to [email protected]. The application should include a filmed submission made on a phone, stating the child’s name, age, and general location in the UK. Additionally, the boys are requested to share, in under 30 seconds, what they would choose to have with them if they were stranded on a remote tropical island, and explain why. Parents and guardians must state their relationship to the applicant and confirm their permission for the child to be considered for a role in the production. Please note that individual feedback on submissions cannot be provided due to the high volume of applications.
For more information, interested parties can visit the official website.
Written by acclaimed writer Jack Thorne, known for his work on “National Treasure,” “Help,” and “Best Interests,” and executive produced by Eleven’s Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell, Lord of the Flies is a four-part drama series that will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The gripping story follows a group of young boys who find themselves stranded on a tropical island.
As they strive to maintain order, the boys are led by Ralph, with intellectual support from Piggy. However, Jack, who is responsible for tending to the signal fire, becomes more interested in hunting and vying for leadership. He starts to draw other boys away from the group’s order, leading them down a path from hope to tragedy.
Jack Thorne expresses his excitement about the casting process, acknowledging the complexity of the story and the need for an exceptional cast. Nina Gold, the casting director, shares her anticipation for the challenge of finding talented young actors to bring these memorable characters to life for a modern audience.
Eleven’s Joel Wilson expresses confidence in Nina Gold’s ability to find the perfect actors for these extraordinary roles, while also emphasising the lasting impact that the series intends to make on viewers, just like the book has for the past 70 years. Lord of the Flies, originally published by Faber, solidified William Golding’s status as an esteemed author and earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983.
Lord of the Flies is a remarkable production by Eleven, backed by Sony Pictures Television, for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series is written by Jack Thorne, with executive producers Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell from Eleven, and Nawfal Faizullah representing the BBC.
