'Adolescence' Creator's Follow-Up Project Hits Netflix Next Month
Fresh off of Adolescence's domination during this year's awards season, series co-creator Jack Thorne is returning to Netflix with a new series.
"Lord of the Flies is the story of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island with no adults, following a deadly plane crash," the official logline reads, per Netflix's press release. "In an attempt to remain civil they organise themselves, led by Ralph and supported by the group’s intellectual, Piggy. But when Jack becomes more interested in hunting and vying for leadership, he soon begins to draw other boys away from the group and, ultimately, from hope to tragedy."
The upcoming series will be the first-ever TV adaptation of William Golding's classic 1954 novel, a staple of school reading lists across the world for well over half a century. The four-episode show, releasing in May, was originally a BBC adaptation that was met with praise from British audiences and critics.
Reviews highlighted the similarities between the story and the record-breaking success of the original series Thorne co-created with its lead actor, Stephen Graham. Both projects portray cautionary tales of young men on the verge of adulthood, depicting brutality and violence that terrifies kids and parents alike.
Adolescence topped the cross-platform streaming charts upon its premiere in March 2025, with the four-part limited series chronicling a young boy's arrest following the fatal stabbing of a 13-year-old female classmate and the investigation into his interest in the manosphere-influenced motives behind the murder.
The series won critical acclaim across the Atlantic and received nine Emmy Awards in 2026. At just 16 years old, Owen Cooper, who portrayed convicted murderer Jamie Miller, became the youngest-ever winner of the four major television acting awards, picking up the Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG Actors' Award, and Critics' Choice Award for his performance.
Lord of the Flies on Netflix U.S. and selected international territories on May 4.