‘Boy Swallows Universe’ Cast Announced as Production Begins on Series Adaptation For Netflix

(Netflix Photo)

Production of the adaptation of Trent Dalton’s iconic Australian novel, Boy Swallows Universe, by Australia’s Brouhaha Entertainment together with Anonymous Content, and Chapter One, has begun in Brisbane, Australia. 

The 8 part limited series will screen globally on Netflix and will star Travis Fimmel (Vikings, Warcraft, Raised by Wolves, Black Snow) as Lyle Orlik, Simon Baker(The Mentalist, Breath, High Ground) as Robert Bell, Phoebe Tonkin(Babylon, Kid Snow, Transfusion, Westworld) will play the role of Frances Bell. The roles of the young Eli and Gus Bell will be played by Felix Cameron(Penguin Bloom) appearing as Eli Bell, and Lee Tiger Halley(The Heights, Featherweight, Crazy Fun Park) as Gus Bell.

Other characters central to the lives of Eli and Gus are played by Bryan Brown(Cocktail, Breaker Morant, Two Hands and Palm Beach) as Slim Halliday, Anthony LaPaglia (Nitram, Florida Man, Without a Trace) as Tytus Broz, and Sophie Wilde (You Don’t Know Me, The Fuck It Bucket, The Portable Door, Tom Jones)in the role of Caitlyn Spies.

Other cast include; Christopher James Baker(True Detective, Ozark, New Gold Mountain) as Ivan Kroll, HaiHa Le (Hungry Ghost, Back to the Rafters, Hardball) as Bich Dang, Deborah Mailman (Total Control, Mystery Road, Offspring, The Sapphires) as Poppy Birkbeck, Ben O’Toole(Hacksaw Ridge, Detroit, Bloody Hell, The Water Diviner) as Teddy, Zachary Wan(Never Too Late, The Unlisted, Hardball) as Darren Dang , Millie Donaldson and Eloise Rothfield will play the roles of 17 and 13 year old Shelley Huffman, respectively. 

The series is adapted for screen by writer John Collee (Master and Commander, Happy Feet, Hotel Mumbai). 

Executive Producers are Troy Lum (The Water Diviner, Saving Mr Banks, Mao’s Last Dancer) and Andrew Mason (The Matrix, The Water Diviner) on behalf of Brouhaha, Sophie Gardiner (Howards End, Little Women, Chimerica) for Chapter One, Anonymous Content’s Kerry Kohansky-Roberts (Foe, Boy Erased), Joel Edgerton (The Gift, Boy Erased, The King) and Toby Bentley (Best Interests, Kiri).

Directors are Bharat Nalluri (Shantaram), Jocelyn Moorhouse (Proof, How to Make an American Quilt, A Thousand Acres), and Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket, Fires, Wakefield). 

Director of Photography is Shelly Farthing-Dawe, Production designer is Michelle McGahey, Costume Designer is Kerry Thompson, Hair and Makeup Designer is Angela Conte and Casting Director is Nikki Barrett. 

Boy Swallows Universe is supported by the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy.

About Netflix

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About Brouhaha Entertainment

The alliance of three pioneering independent producers, Brouhaha Entertainment is a production company based in two hemispheres that traverses genre and convention with its diverse Film and Television slate. Producing team Troy Lum and Andrew Mason have been involved in iconic cinema in Australia and abroad. Their combined filmography includes titles such as Saving Mr Banks, Adoration, The Water Diviner,The Matrix and Dark City. Gabrielle Tana has proven to be one of the most respected independent producers in the UK. Her consistent eye for quality and top-notch talent has yielded critical acclaim and awards for titles such as The Duchess, Philomena, The Invisible Woman, The White Crow and The Dig. Upcoming 2022 productions from Brouhaha Entertainment include Karim Aïnouz’s feature film Firebrand, a revisionist Tudor thriller about Katherine Parr starring Alicia Vikander and Jude Law; a feature biopic Lee, about the iconic photographer Lee Miller, to be played by Kate Winslet; and Boy Swallows Universe, the eight-part series produced for Netflix, based on Trent Dalton’s best-selling novel.

About Anonymous Content

Anonymous Content is a visionary global media company that produces multi-platform premium content and boasts an exceptional client roster which includes many of the world’s most renowned and innovative directors, writers, and actors. The company’s award-winning Film & TV division encompasses many commercially successful and critically acclaimed works. Current Anonymous Content films include the recently released and critically acclaimed Swan Song (Apple TV+), Worth (Netflix), Stillwater (Focus Features) and The Midnight Sky (Netflix) as well as the highly anticipated upcoming film, Foe (Amazon) starring Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal and Aaron Pierre. The company is also behind the three-time Academy Award winning film The Revenant, Best Picture Academy Award winning film Spotlight, and Academy Award winning film for Best Original Screenplay, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The company’s TV credits include the recently released The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV+) starring Samuel L. Jackson and Dominique Fishback and upcoming series Time Bandits (Apple TV+) from Taika Waititi, Shantaram (Apple TV+) starring Charlie Hunnam, and SAINT X (Hulu) directed by Dee Rees as well as many award winning and critically acclaimed series including True Detective (HBO), Mr. Robot (USA Network), Homecoming (Amazon), 13 Reasons Why (Netflix), Dickinson (Apple TV+), Home Before Dark (Apple TV+), and Defending Jacob (Apple). In 2018, Anonymous Content created The Lab, a creative incubator designed to push the boundaries of how brands tell stories by engaging emerging filmmakers and diverse storytellers.  Through its Commercial work, Anonymous Content is also the driving creative force behind countless leading global brands. For more information, visit www.anonymouscontent.com. 

About Chapter One Pictures

Chapter One Pictures is a UK based production house launched in 2018 by Anonymous Content, Casarotto Ramsay and United Agents. Committed to making quality, entertaining and original content for television and film, our passion is for authored work across all genres, broadcasters and platforms. Building on the experience of Managing Director, Sophie Gardiner, Chapter One promises to have a real impact both internationally and within the U.K. Current projects in production include Jack Thorne’s latest series Best Interests (BBC/Endeavor), and the limited series adaptation of bestselling author, Trent Dalton’s  Boy Swallows Universe. The series is co-produced by Anonymous Content and Brouhaha for Netflix. On the film side, Chapter One is currently producing the feature adaptation of the inspiring, heart-felt cookbook Breadsong, about a father’s determination to help his young, once care-free teenage daughter overcome her battle with depression through their unexpected journey baking together.