Netflix Buys Lord of the Flies Series From Adolescence Creator for US

Netflix has acquired the U.S. rights to the forthcoming “Lord of the Flies” series from “Adolescence” co-creator Jack Thorne.

Sony Pictures Television announced the deal on Friday as “Lord of the Flies” prepares for its premiere at Berlin Film Festival. In addition to the U.S. sale to Netflix, the series — which launched on the BBC in the U.K. Feb. 8 — has sold in territories across Europe, Latin America and Asia.

“Lord of the Flies” has sold to Sky (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy); CBC (English Canada); Radio-Canada (French Canada); TVNZ (New Zealand); Syn (Iceland); U-NEXT (Japan); Yes (Israel); Globoplay (Brazil); Telia (Estonia); Telia Play (Lithuania); Tet+ (Latvia); HBO and HBO Max (across Central and Eastern Europe and Poland); and beIN (across the Middle East and North Africa).

The four-episode series is the first television adaptation of William Golding’s novel and stars Lox Pratt, who will play Draco Malfoy in HBO’s “Harry Potter” series, alongside newcomers Winston Sawyers, David McKenna, Ike Talbut, Thomas Connor and more. As in the famous novel, the series follows a group of boys who find themselves stranded on a tropical island and must learn to survive.

“Jack Thorne’s contemporary take on this timeless story is, in one word: powerful,” said Mike Wald, co-president of distribution and networks at SPT. “This first-ever television adaptation of the iconic novel delivers on every level, including its cinematic scope and transportive music, and we are thrilled with the incredible response that we have seen from buyers in every market.”

Premiering last March, Thorne’s “Adolescence” — which he co-created with star Stephen Graham and followed a 13-year-old boy who is arrested for the murder of his classmate — was a huge hit on Netflix, earning critical and commercial acclaim. It won eight Emmy Awards, including outstanding limited or anthology series, lead actor in a limited series for Stephen Graham and supporting actor for breakout star Owen Cooper.

Deadline Hollywood was the first to report the news.