Jacob Elordi on The Narrow Road to the Deep North: A Wartime Epic

Jacob Elordi, best known for his roles in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla and Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, has taken on a new challenge in Amazon Prime’s adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s Booker prize-winning novel, The Narrow Road to the Deep North. This marks his first lead role playing an Australian character, Dorrigo Evans. The series follows Dorrigo, an Australian Army medical officer turned Japanese prisoner of war on the Burma-Thailand railway, as he struggles to survive and keep his comrades alive in brutal conditions.

The production of The Narrow Road to the Deep North was no small feat. Elordi and the cast underwent a physically intense six-week boot camp in the rainforest south of Sydney to accurately portray the emaciated bodies of PoW survivors. The close relationships formed during this time translated into on-screen camaraderie, adding depth to the characters’ interactions.

Written by Justin Kurzel and Shaun Grant, who are known for their work on films like Snowtown and Nitram, The Narrow Road to the Deep North carries a sense of moral responsibility in retelling traumatic episodes of Australian history. Their personal connections to the story, through family ties to wartime experiences, added depth and authenticity to the adaptation.

The series, planned to release on Prime Video in Australia and later on the BBC in the UK, weaves together multiple timelines, showcasing Dorrigo’s past love affair with Amy, his time as a PoW, and his later years reflecting on his life’s choices. The blend of love, loss, and survival makes for a powerful and emotional viewing experience.

Jacob Elordi brings a depth to the character of Dorrigo, portraying him as a man grappling with his flaws and the consequences of his choices. As the series unfolds, audiences will witness Dorrigo’s transformation from a young, selfish man to an older, emotionally scarred war hero struggling with survivor’s guilt.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North promises to be a gripping and emotionally charged wartime epic, shedding light on a lesser-known chapter of Australian history. With a talented cast and a compelling story, this adaptation is sure to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact.