Boys of Tommen fans have been on the edge of their seats, waiting for the release of the upcoming TV adaptation, on Prime Video.
The book series, set in Cork, follows a group of secondary school teens, who try to navigate love, addiction, poverty and fitting in.
The TV show is set to be eight episodes long, combining the first two books in the series: Binding 13 and Keeping 13.
Conor Sánchez as Johnny and Nancy Surridge as Shannon in Boys of Tommen. Pic: Prime Video
The show will mainly focus on the love story between Shannon Lynch, the shy, traumatised new girl at Tommen College, and Johnny Kavanagh, Tommen’s golden-boy rugby star.
A slight similarity to Normal People, another rural Irish book-turned-TV show we all grew to love.
The official Prime Video casting has been announced – but are fans still as keen?
BOYS OF TOMMEN | Prime Video Reveals Additional Eight Cast Members. Pic: Prime Video
These actors were chosen after over 3,000 casting submissions across Ireland and the UK. Director Brendan Canty said it was immediately clear they were ‘something beyond special’.
Brendan is known for directing Hozier’s famous music video for hit song, Take Me to Church.
Nancy Surridge will play Shannon Lynch, with Conor Sánchez cast as Johnny Kavanagh. James O’Donoghue will play Joey Lynch, the troubled but kind brother of Shannon, and Sophie McGibbon as the fiery Aoife Molloy.
BOYS OF TOMMEN, DIXIE EGERICKX. Pic: Prime Video
Though the director thinks they’re a perfect match, what do the readers think of their beloved characters?
A further eight cast members were announced via Instagram – including Bono’s son, These Sacred Vows’ John Hewson has been cast as Gerard Gibson, following his acting success in the White Lotus-esque show opposite Love/Hate star Tom Vaughan-Lawlor.
Amelia May will play Claire Biggs, Industry star Indy Lewis as Lizzie Young, with Alex Dunne as Hugh Biggs.
Joining the ensemble are English actor Dixie Egerickx as Katie Wilmot and Everything I Know About Love star Daisy Jacob as Bella Wilkinson.
Dublin’s Jonathan Heed takes on Cormac Ryan, with newcomer Cathal Ó Síocháin cast as Ronan McGarry.
BOYS OF TOMMEN, ALEX DUNNE. Pic: Prime Video
An explosive reaction came from the Instagram post announcement, with one fan commenting, ‘Why are we casting adults as 16 year olds???’
Another referenced author Chloe Walsh, by writing: ‘I get Chloe’s frustration over our reactions but girl, these actors don’t even match the descriptions of the characters. How does she expect us to be satisfied with this.’
One fan said: ‘Congratulations for winning the prize of the worst book to film adaptation in the history of forever.’ Yikes!
Boys of Tommen cast. Pic: Prime Video
Any positive comments were few and far between, but many fans agreed on the same thing – the actors are stunning, just not book accurate.
The series has been adapted by Poppy Cogan (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder), with director Brendan saying: ‘Poppy has done an amazing job adapting Chloe’s beloved books, and the way both writers capture young people’s lives with such empathy, tenderness and honesty feels truly extraordinary to me.’
With so much work gone into the show, will the fans give it a chance?