Picture: BBC
Netflix has secured the US rights to the new television adaptation of Lord of the Flies. The series, coming to Netflix on May 4, is produced by the team behind Sex Education and features a cast of newcomers, including one young actor already set to lead Netflix’s massive upcoming Chronicles of Narnia reboot from Greta Gerwig later this year.
Coming just ahead of its BBC premiere and sales to other providers, Netflix has acquired the exclusive US rights to the four-part limited series, which is now available in full in the UK on the BBC iPlayer and already aired in Australia. The news, first reported by Deadline, confirms that the streamer beat out several other interested buyers for the prestigious drama, but only in the United States, with rivals winning elsewhere. Sony Pictures Television is behind the show.
The Netflix Narnia Connection
The headline-grabber for Netflix subscribers is the presence of David McKenna. McKenna plays the iconic role of Piggy in this adaptation, but he is already on the radar of Netflix sleuths for a much bigger reason. The young actor is set to star as Digory Kirke in Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, which is currently in post-production for the streamer.
Seeing McKenna in Lord of the Flies will give Netflix subscribers their first proper look at the young talent who will be carrying one of the platform’s biggest future franchises. He isn’t the only cast member with a massive franchise future, either. Lox Pratt, who plays the antagonist Jack in the series, has reportedly been cast as the new Draco Malfoy in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series.
What is Lord of the Flies?
Based on William Golding’s 1954 Nobel Prize-winning novel, this is somewhat surprisingly the first-ever television adaptation of the book (previous versions were feature films).
Written by Jack Thorne (best known for Netflix’s Enola Holmes, Netflix’s Adolescence, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), the series stays true to the chilling premise: a group of young boys is stranded on a tropical island after a plane crash. Without adult supervision, they attempt to organize themselves into a civil society, only for their order to crumble as they descend into savagery.
The series is directed by Marc Munden (Utopia, The Third Day) and produced by Eleven Film, the Sony-owned production company behind Netflix’s massive hit Sex Education.
Adding to the cinematic pedigree, the score features a main theme and music by legendary composer Hans Zimmer (Dune, The Lion King) alongside Kara Talve, with the series score composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer (The White Lotus).
Who is in the cast?
The series features a large ensemble of young talent, many making their screen debuts:
- Winston Sawyers as Ralph, the group’s initial elected leader.
- Lox Pratt as Jack, the head choirboy who challenges Ralph’s authority.
- David McKenna as Piggy, the intellectual outsider.
- Ike Talbut as Simon.
- Other cast members include Thomas Connor, Noah and Cassius Flemyng, and Cornelius Brandreth.
When will Lord of the Flies be on Netflix?
Netflix has confirmed that Lord of the Flies will be released on the Netflix US library on May 4, 2026.
For our international readers, please note that this is a US-only deal for Netflix.
- United Kingdom: Currently airing on BBC iPlayer.
- Australia: Streaming on Stan.
- Canada: Rights have gone to CBC (English) and Radio-Canada (French).
- Other Regions: Sony Pictures Television has sold the series to various local broadcasters, including Sky (Germany, Italy), U-NEXT (Japan), and HBO (Central Europe).
Are you excited to check out this new take on Lord of the Flies when it hits Netflix US? Let us know in the comments.
