Boy Swallows Universe (TV series) explained

Num Episodes:7[1]
Composer:Johnny Klimek
Gabriel Mounsey[2]
Editor:Jamie Pearson
Mark Perry
Marcus D'Arcy
Runtime:49–77 minutes
Country:Australia
Location:Brisbane
Cinematography:Shelley Farthing-Dawe
Mark Wareham
Network:Netflix

Boy Swallows Universe is an Australian coming of age television limited series for Netflix based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Trent Dalton. Produced by Andrew Mason and Troy Lum and written by John Collee, the story revolves around Eli Bell, a working-class youth who enters Brisbane's underworld to save his mother from danger.[3] It features an ensemble cast led by Travis Fimmel, Phoebe Tonkin, Felix Cameron, Lee Tiger Halley, Zac Burgess, Simon Baker, Bryan Brown, Anthony LaPaglia and Sophie Wilde.

The series premiered on Netflix on 11 January 2024 to overwhelming praise from critics and audiences. The story, tone, acting and faithfulness to the source material were all subjects of particular acclaim. It received numerous accolades, including a record 10 Logie Award nominations.

Cast

Production

Development

The television adaptation rights of Trent Dalton's novel Boy Swallows Universe were acquired by Brouhaha Entertainment, Anonymous Content and Chapter One. On 4 March 2022, it was announced that an 8-episode limited series had been commissioned by Netflix, with producers Andrew Mason and Troy Lum of Brouhaha Entertainment, Sophie Gardiner of Chapter One, and Kerry Kohansky-Roberts and Toby Bentley of Anonymous Content.[6]

Casting

It was revealed on 31 August 2022 that Felix Cameron would be playing the leading character, Eli Bell, and other main cast members included Lee Tiger Halley, Travis Fimmel, Simon Baker, Phoebe Tonkin, Bryan Brown, Anthony LaPaglia, and Sophie Wilde. Christopher James Baker, Deborah Mailman, Ben O'Toole, and others also landed roles.[7] [8]

Filming

Shelley Farthing-Dawe is the main cinematographer of the series. Principal photography for the series reportedly began in August 2022, with filming beginning in Brisbane.[9] [10] A house in Beenleigh was used for Lyle and Frankie's house while Robert's house was located in Wavell Heights. The scenes of the family buying a secondhand Atari console were filmed in Chelmer.[11]

Reception

Critical response

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the series an 85% approval rating based on 13 reviews.[12]

Luke Buckmaster reviewing the series for The Guardian rated it four stars out of five.[13] Kylie Northover reviewing the series for The Sydney Morning Herald rated the series as five stars out of five, "As in the book, the mood is a tightrope walk between despair and childish optimism; the brothers’ lives are shaped by trauma, but this sprawling story is infused with humour and great warmth, even for the adults who have let them down."[14]

Jessica Baker of WhoWhatWear wrote that Phoebe Tonkin "is in the midst of a transformative period. Coming off a truly spectacular dramatic performance in Boy Swallows Universe."[15] Dalton, who wrote the novel the series is based on, also praised Tonkin's performance, stating "Phoebe went right ahead and gave a performance across eight hours of television that is so raw and exposing and true and dark-as-night-sometimes and so filled with light and hope and heart and LOVE that it reminded me why I wanted to write Boy Swallows Universe in the first place."[16]

Accolades

At the 2024 Logie Awards, the series received a year-record 10 nominations. These included nominations for Best Miniseries or Telemovie, Best Lead Actor (for Cameron and Baker), Best Lead Actress (for Tonkin), Best Supporting Actor (for Brown, Halley and Fimmel) and Best Supporting Actress (for Wilde), and the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent (for Cameron and Halley).[17] The series won 5 Logies during the award ceremony.[18]

Logie Awards!Year!Award!Category!Winner!Result!Ref
2024Silver LogieBest Supporting Actress Sophie Wilde[19]
Graham Kennedy AwardMost Popular New TalentFelix Cameron
Silver LogieBest Supporting ActorBryan Brown
Silver LogieBest Miniseries or Telemovie
Silver LogieBest Lead Actor in a DramaFelix Cameron

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boy Swallows Universe Is Being Adapted For The Screen For Netflix . 2022-03-04 . 2022-08-03 . Netflix.
  2. Web site: Johnny Klimek & Gabriel Mounsey Scoring Netflix's 'Boy Swallows Universe'. December 4, 2023.
  3. Web site: Awards, Oprah and a TV Deal: Success Continues for Trent Dalton's Boy Swallows Universe . 2019-05-23 . 2022-08-03 . BETTER READING.
  4. Web site: Ostby . Ingrid . 13 January 2023 . Boy Swallows Universe: Everything You Need to Know About the Series . 13 January 2023 . Netflix.
  5. Web site: H-B . Khaled . Boy Swallows Universe Season 2: What Release date? . TheCinemalic.com . 13 January 2024 . 14 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Boy Swallows Universe: Netflix swallows Trent Dalton's bestselling novel for 8-part series . 2022-03-04 . 2022-08-03 . . Quinn . Karl.
  7. Web site: Whittock . Jesse . 2022-08-31 . Netflix's 'Boy Swallows Universe': Travis Fimmel, Simon Baker & Phoebe Tonkin To Front Aussie Drama From Brouhaha Entertainment, Anonymous Content & Chapter One . 2022-09-05 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Frater . Patrick . 2022-08-31 . Travis Fimmel and Simon Baker Head Cast of Netflix Series 'Boy Swallows Universe' . 2022-09-05 . Variety . en-US.
  9. Web site: Frater . Patrick . 2022-07-20 . Netflix Series 'Boy Swallows Universe' to Shoot in Brisbane . 2022-08-03 . Variety.
  10. Web site: Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton's Boy Swallows Universe to be shot in Brisbane . 2022-07-21 . 2022-08-03 . Business News Australia . Dedovic . Amila.
  11. News: 2024-01-12 . From Darra to The Gap: How Netflix recreated 1980s Brisbane in Boy Swallows Universe . 2024-01-13 . ABC News . en-AU.
  12. Web site: 18 January 2024 . Boy Swallows Universe . . 1 February 2024 .
  13. Web site: Buckmaster . Luke . 11 January 2024 . Boy Swallows Universe review – Netflix's Trent Dalton adaptation is one of a kind . 13 January 2024 . .
  14. Web site: Northover . Kylie . 9 January 2024 . Netflix's adaptation of this bestseller is incredible . 13 January 2024 . .
  15. Web site: Phoebe Tonkin Will Take Your Breath Away in Boy Swallows Universe . Baker, Jessica . 16 January 2024 .
  16. Web site: Phoebe Tonkin Explores Trauma and Tenderness in Boy Swallows Universe . Tauer, Kristen . 11 January 2024 .
  17. Web site: Knox. David. Logie Awards 2024: nominees. 23 June 2024. TV Tonight. TV Tonight. 23 June 2024.
  18. Web site: Quinn . Thomas Mitchell, Damien Woolnough, Gemma Grant, Karl . 2024-08-18 . Logies 2024: Sam Pang kicks off awards ceremony with a bang . 2024-08-18 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  19. Web site: Knox . David . 2024-08-18 . Logie Awards 2024: winners TV Tonight . 2024-08-18 . tvtonight.com.au . en-AU.

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