While we’re always leery of the practice of directly using TV projects and films as a barometer of the planetary mood—what with the long lead times most shows and movies have, it can always be an inexact science—it does feel notable when you start seeing certain trends. Like, say, observing the biggest, most data-driven streamer on the planet decide that what its viewers really want to tuck into right now is a bit of nice, cheerful Lord Of The Flies.
This is per Deadline, which reports that Netflix has just stepped up to acquire Jack Thorne’s recently aired BBC One adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel of boys being boys (who hunt and murder each other). Now, to be fair, Netflix has a pretty strong relationship with Thorne in any case, having previously acquired, and released to considerable acclaim, his 2025 projects Toxic Town, and most especially Adolescence. Still, we can’t help but think that there might be something in the global geopolitical waters that could lead decision makers to believe a show about the thin veneer of humanity sloughing off in the face of hunger, adversity, and the overwhelming thirst for power could do well right now.
Lord Of The Flies ran all four of its episodes in the U.K. back on February 8, earning strong reviews, including for a young cast that featured a number of relative unknowns. (Including Lox Pratt, the kid playing Draco Malfoy in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter show, playing the villainous Jack.) Written by Thorne, and directed by Utopia‘s Marc Munden, the series is set to air tonight for audiences at the Berlin International Film Festival, who will presumably have a delightful, heartwarming time reflecting on how, deep down, we all have a severed pig’s head chortling inside us, reminding us that, in Golding’s own words, “man produces evil as a bee produces honey.” You know: Cheerful stuff!
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