Boy Swallows Universe Is An Australian TV limited Series On Netflix Based On the Novel “Boy Swallows Universe” by Trent Dalton. The Series Is Produced By Troy Lum And Andrew Manson, And The Writer Of The Series Is John Collee. The story is basically about the complex life of a young Eli Bell. The character of EI BELL is perfectly played by Zac Burgess. He enters Brisbane’s Underworld To Save His mother’s Life. On 11 January 2024, The Series Is Released On Netflix.
Glimpses of the Series
The story of the series starts from the Brisbane suburbs in the 1980s. A harsh and violent world in Australia. The story takes viewers on an unusual journey with a young kid named Eli Bell, exposing his childhood filled with traumatic memories. Eli has become used to the harsh realities. He’s facing daily challenges because he comes from a family background that has engaged in local criminal activities. Eli has to live with a stepfather involved in heroin dealing, a mother struggling with addiction, a silent brother, a missing father, and a known felon working as a babysitter.
Boy Swallows Universe Season 2
After the great success of season 1, audiences are demanding season 2 of the series.
Makers has not officially confirmed season 2 of the series, as season 1 covers the entire story of the original novel written by Trent Dalton. This Novel was written with a proper beginning, middle, and end.
Boy Swallows Universe Season 2 Release Date
Netflix has not announced Boy Swallows Universe season 2 or its release date.
The show was created as a limited edition series or miniseries. There is no plan for the continuation of this series.
Cast Of The Boy Swallows Universe
It was announced on 31 August 2022 that Felix Cameron would be playing the lead role of Eli Bell, and other main cast members are Lee Tiger Halley, Travis Fimmel, Simon Baker, Phoebe Tonkin, Bryan Brown, Anthony LaPaglia, Sophie Wilde, Christopher James Baker, Deborah Mailman, and Ben O’Toole of the series.
Cast
| Cast | Characters |
| Zac Burgess | Eli Bell (age 17) |
| Felix Cameron | Eli Bell (age 13) |
| Phoebe Tonkin | Frances “Frankie” Bell, Gus and Eli’s mother |
| Travis Fimmel | Lyle Orlik, Gus and Eli’s stepfather |
| Lee Tiger Halley | August ‘Gus’ Bell, Eli’s brother |
| Simon Baker | Robert Bell, Gus and Eli’s father |
| Anthony Lapaglia | Tytus Broz, boss and drug dealer |
| Bryan Brown | Slim Halliday, Gus and Eli’s babysitter |
| Sophie Wilde | Caitlyn Spies, newspaper journalist |
| Toby Schmitz | Detective Tim Cotton, a corrupt police officer |
| Christopher James Baker | Ivan Kroll, standover man/drug dealer |
| Deborah Mailman | Poppy Birkbeck, guidance counsellor |
| Rob Carlton | Brian Robertson |
| Micheal Denkha | George Masoumi, Slim’s friend |
| Kate Box | Dr Brennan |
Production of Boy Swallows Universe
Producers of the series are Andrew Mason and Troy Lum. The television rights of Trent Dalton’s novel Boy Swallows Universe were acquired by Brouhaha Entertainment for Chapter One, and Kerry Kohansky-Roberts and Toby Bentley of Anonymous Content, on 4th March 2022. It was announced that a 7-episode limited series had been licensed by Netflix.
Michelle McGahey (Production Designer), Kerry Thompson (Costume Designer), and Shelly Farthing-Dawe (Cinematographer)
Boy Swallows Universe Episodes
There are a total of 7 episodes of this series, which are directed by 3 different directors: Bharat Nalluri, Jocelyn Moorhouse, and Kim Mordaunt.
- “Boy Smells Rats”
- “Boy Gets Chop”
- “Run Boy Run”
- “Boy Loses Dad”
- “Boy Takes Flight”
- “Boy Seeks Work”
- “Boy Meets End”
Is Boy Swallows Universe a true story?
Yes, this limited series is inspired by a novel that is semi-autobiographical.
Trent Dalton, the original writer of the novel. The story is based on fictional events, characters, and childhood facts. The series and book are not completely based on the true story. They both are heavily inspired by Dalton’s life traumatic experiences, including his mother’s time in jail, his father’s personality, and his stepfather’s drug dealing.
Here is the list of Awards won by Boy Swallows Universe
In the 2024 Logie Awards, the Series set a record of 10 nominations.
Awards are from Graham Kennedy, Silver Logie, and AACTA.
| AWARDS | CATEGORY | WINNER |
| Silver Logie | Best Supporting Actress | Sophie Wilde |
| Graham Kennedy | Most Popular New Talent | Felix Cameron |
| Silver Logie | Best Supporting Actor | Bryan Brown |
| Silver Logie / AACTA | Best Lead Actor in Drama | Felix Cameron |
| Silver Logie / AACTA | Best Miniseries | |
| AACTA | Best Supporting Actress | Deborah Mailman |
| AACTA | Best Supporting Actor in Drama | Lee Halley |
Boy Swallows Universe Netflix Review
The show is about thirteen years old. This series is based on an adult novel. It’s a coming-of-age story of two brothers, Eli and August, who haven’t spoken a word in almost a decade, and how they face the difficulty of growing up.
Boy Swallows Universe explores a world of drugs and crime. Because of the perceived innocence of the adolescent narrator, it doesn’t make this a brutal drama.
Eli Bell lives with his brother August, who has chosen not to speak since he was 8, and he may have the power to see into the future. They live with their mother, Frankie, and their stepdad, Lyle, and with the support of Slim Halliday. To round out the set of adults lending love and support to Eli is his pen pal, Alex Bermuda, a sergeant-at-arms of a bikie gang. He has a heart of gold.
It is well worth watching Australian-produced streaming content. There are some very brutal scenes.
Conclusion
This TV show is a masterpiece of storytelling. It brings Trent Dalton’s book to life in a visually stunning and emotional way. The performances that feel like each character comes to life. The makers’ attention to detail in recreating the novel. It’s a thoughtful depiction of family trauma, adaptability, and hope that has connected with audiences and critics around the world.
Boy Swallows Universe finds new viewers, and it sets a benchmark for how local stories can be viewed globally. It tells us that even in the hardest times, humanity can win. Whether you’ve read the book or not, this Netflix series is a moving experience that will stick with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. The last scene of the show is Eli recovering in the hospital after exposing Tytus Broz’s crimes, surviving a near-fatal stabbing by Ivan. The series ends with Eli surrounded by his family, His reunited parents and brother Gus, and his friend Caitlyn, and he finishes writing his book.
Ans. The series is rated 7.9/10 by IMDb. Top top-rated episode with an 8.3/10 rating is Episode 4, “BOY LOSES DAD”.
Ans. This is a show with a kid narrator; it has a lot of adult content. Expect extreme violence, from bloody prison yard brawls to the graphic slicing of a rat’s tail. Drugs and their effects are frequently present. The lead characters of the series sell drugs, specifically heroin, and have shown their use of them.
Ans. Yes, the trailer was released by Netflix on November 27, 2023. It provides glimpses of a harsh and violent world in Australia.
Ans. This series is not a movie. This is a Netflix limited series inspired by Trent Dalton’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. Maybe in the future it’s recreated as a movie because of the global success.
