Netflix’s official trailer for Lord of the Flies reveals just how close the adaptation is to William Golding’s brilliant dystopian novel. The trailer reveals the series won’t hold back on the brutality and madness in Golding’s 1954 novel, which remains required reading in many high schools – in states where it’s not banned.
Emmy-winner Jack Thorne, co-creator of Adolescence, adapted the novel, and Marc Munden (National Treasure, The Sympathizer) directed the four-episode limited series. Netflix has set a May 4, 2026 streaming release.
“Innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways in the first television adaptation of William Golding’s landmark dystopian classic,” reads Netflix’s synopsis.
Winston Sawyers stars as Ralph, Lox Pratt plays Jack, David McKenna is Piggy, and Ike Talbut plays Simon. Thomas Connor is Roger, Cornelius Brandreth is Maurice, Tom Page-Turner is Bill, and Noah and Cassius Flemyng play twins Sam and Eric.
Joel Wilson, Jamie Campbell, Jack Thorne, and Marc Munden serve as executive producers. Hans Zimmer, Kara Talve, and Cristobal Tapia de Veer provided the music. Lord of the Flies is an Eleven and One Shoe Films production backed by Sony Pictures Television.