Jack Thorne Shares the Similarities Between His ‘Lord of the Flies’ Adaptation and the Experience of Growing Up
Two recent projects by acclaimed writer Jack Thorne share notable themes that reflect contemporary societal issues.
During a screening of his adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel, Lord of the Flies, Thorne remarked, “A bit of Golding slipped into Adolescence and a bit of Adolescence slpipped into Golding,” indicating a deep connection between the two works.
Elaborating further in show notes released by the BBC, he stated, “I think, as a society, we’re having a conversation right now about boys. We’re losing a generation of boys and we’re losing it because of the hate they are ingesting—because it is an answer to their loneliness and isolation.”
Adolescence, which ranks as Netflix’s second-most watched English-language series, explores similar themes of boyhood and loss. Golding’s Lord of the Flies, published over 50 years ago, similarly delves into the darker aspects of youth.
The narrative follows a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited island who gradually descend into savagery. In Thorne’s adaptation for the BBC and Australia’s Stan, new actors, including Lox Pratt—known for his role as Malfoy in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series—will portray the main characters.
Thorne described Lord of the Flies as “a really loving portrait of boys.” He continued, “When I read it as an adult, I thought of it as a tender portrait of a lot of very complicated boys having a complicated relationship with their status and anger.”
This TV adaptation marks the first since the 1990 film directed by Harry Hook, which featured Balthazar Getty. Produced by Eleven, known for Sex Education, the series is being distributed internationally by Sony Pictures Television, though it has yet to secure a buyer in the U.S.
The show is set to premiere in the UK on Sunday, filling the coveted time slot left by The Night Manager.
