One of the most influential novels of the last century is making its way to television, as Stan and the BBC release first-look images from Lord of the Flies – the long-awaited adaptation of William Golding’s 1954 classic.
The four-part series comes from BAFTA-winning writer Jack Thorne (Adolescence, The Hack) and director Marc Munden (Help, The Sympathizer). It’s produced by Eleven – the team behind Sex Education and Ten Pound Poms – with Sony Pictures Television handling global distribution.
Shot on location in Malaysia, the series introduces a largely new ensemble cast led by Winston Sawyers as Ralph, Lox Pratt as Jack, David McKenna as Piggy, and Ike Talbut as Simon.
The cast also includes Thomas Connor as Roger, Noah and Cassius Flemming as twins Sam and Eric, Cornelius Brandreth as Maurice, and Tom Page-Turner as Bill, alongside an ensemble of more than 30 young actors portraying the island’s “biguns” and “littluns.”
Staying true to Golding’s vision
At its core, Lord of the Flies follows a group of schoolboys stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash.
With no adults and dwindling order, their attempts at civilisation collapse into chaos and violence – a reflection on human nature, morality, and the loss of innocence.
Thorne’s adaptation marks the story’s first-ever television treatment, staying faithful to Golding’s original 1950s setting on an unnamed Pacific island while digging deeper into its emotional terrain.
Each of the four episodes focuses on one of the novel’s central figures – Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack – offering shifting perspectives on how leadership, fear, and survival play out among the boys.
The production was made in collaboration with Golding’s family, ensuring the series remains anchored in the spirit and complexity of the original text.
Behind the scenes
The project was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, and marks another significant collaboration between the BBC and Stan following joint successes like Ten Pound Poms.
The series is produced by Callum Devrell-Cameron (Sex Education, Hanna), with executive producers Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell for Eleven, Jack Thorne for One Shoe Films, Marc Munden, Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC, and Cailah Scobie for Stan.