The BBC and Stan have dropped the first-look images from their new take on Lord of the Flies, and if the photos are anything to go by, this version of William Golding’s classic is going to be feral, sweaty, and agonizing to watch, as it should be. Filmed in the wilds of Malaysia, the four-part series marks the first-ever television adaptation of Golding’s novel and comes from Adolescence writer Jack Thorne and National Treasure director Marc Munden. The production comes via Eleven (Sex Education) and One Shoe Films, with the full support of Golding’s family.
But the biggest talking point is Lox Pratt, who plays Jack — the island’s self-appointed hunter, rule-breaker, and eventual tyrant. Pratt’s name should ring a bell: he was just announced as Draco Malfoy in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot, and if these new images are anything to go by, the casting makes perfect sense. He just looks… like a terror.
The photos show the young cast — most of them making their screen debuts — slowly shedding their uniforms and civility as they descend into chaos. Among them: Winston Sawyers as Ralph, David McKenna as Piggy, Ike Talbut as Simon, and Thomas Connor as Roger, along with more than 30 other boys playing the stranded group’s “biguns” and “littluns.”
The story remains faithful to the 1954 novel: a group of British schoolboys find themselves stranded on a tropical island after a plane crash. What begins as a hopeful attempt to stay organized quickly spirals into something primal and terrifying as leadership splits between Ralph’s order and Jack’s appetite for power.
Each episode is named after a central character — Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack — which is a pretty smart move as it’ll allow us to dig into the story a bit deeper. Could it be a Rashomon style telling of the story?
Who Else Is in ‘Harry Potter’?
And while Lord of the Flies will give Pratt his first major showcase, he’s about to become a household name. HBO’s Harry Potter series — described as a decade-long “faithful adaptation” — recently began filming, with Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby as the Dursleys, and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley. The show’s main trio — Dominic McLaughlin (Harry), Alastair Stout (Ron), and Arabella Stanton (Hermione) — are all newcomers, too.
Lord of the Flies premieres later this year on BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and Stan, while HBO’s Harry Potter will arrive in early 2027 on HBO Max.
Showrunner
Francisca Gardiner
Directors
Mark Mylod
Writers
Francesca Gardiner
Franchise(s)
Harry Potter