Jacob Elordi takes on one of his most substantial television roles in The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a five-part Australian drama based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel. Elordi plays the younger version of Dorrigo Evans, an Australian doctor and soldier whose life is shaped by love, war, imprisonment and the lasting effects of trauma.
The series premiered on Prime Video on April 18, 2025, before its UK broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in July 2025. It was adapted by Shaun Grant and directed by Justin Kurzel, with Ciarán Hinds playing the older Dorrigo.
For Elordi, The Narrow Road to the Deep North is particularly notable because it places him in an Australian historical drama and gives him a lead role very different from his best-known performances in Euphoria, Saltburn and Priscilla. It also allows him to play a character at the center of a story that moves across several periods of one man’s life.
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What Is The Narrow Road to the Deep North?
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a five-part Australian drama combining historical drama, romance and war elements.
The series was adapted from Richard Flanagan’s novel of the same name by screenwriter Shaun Grant and directed by Justin Kurzel. Curio Pictures produced the series, while Sony Pictures Television handled international distribution.
The story follows Dorrigo Evans across different stages of his life. During World War II, he becomes a prisoner of war and is forced to work on the Thailand-Burma Railway. At the same time, the story looks back at his relationship with Amy Mulvaney, the wife of his uncle Keith.
The series also moves into Dorrigo’s later life, when he has become a respected surgeon and Australian war hero. Ciarán Hinds plays the older version of the character, while Jacob Elordi plays Dorrigo as a younger man.
Rather than being a conventional battlefield war story, the adaptation focuses heavily on memory, relationships, survival and the long-term consequences of war.
Is Jacob Elordi in The Narrow Road to the Deep North?
Yes. Jacob Elordi stars in The Narrow Road to the Deep North as the younger Dorrigo Evans.
This is not a brief cameo or supporting appearance. Elordi is one of the central performers in the five-part series, with the story largely built around Dorrigo’s life.
Official Prime Video material identifies Elordi as Dorrigo Evans and explains that Ciarán Hinds plays the character in his later years. The production’s official information also identifies the series as an adaptation of Flanagan’s novel.
Elordi’s involvement is therefore central to the project and represents an important step in his career as a leading actor.
Before exploring his role as Dorrigo Evans, you can learn more about Jacob Elordi’s life and career in our detailed biography.
What Role Does Jacob Elordi Play?
Jacob Elordi plays Dorrigo Evans, specifically the younger version of the character.
Dorrigo is an Australian medical student who becomes an army doctor during World War II. He eventually finds himself imprisoned by Japanese forces and forced to work on the Thailand-Burma Railway.
The character’s personal life is equally important to the story. Before the war, Dorrigo has a passionate relationship with Amy Mulvaney, played by Odessa Young. Amy is the young wife of Dorrigo’s uncle, Keith Mulvaney, played by Simon Baker.
The story later follows Dorrigo as an older man. Ciarán Hinds takes over the role in the 1980s timeline, portraying a Dorrigo who has become a respected surgeon and war hero.
This means Elordi’s role is not simply that of a conventional wartime hero. Dorrigo is presented at different stages of his life, with his experiences before, during and after the war influencing the person he becomes.
The role also gives Elordi the opportunity to portray a character whose story requires him to move between romance, military conflict, imprisonment and personal memory.
His growing film career has also raised questions about how much Jacob Elordi earns per movie, particularly as he takes on larger and more prominent roles.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North Story
The story is told across multiple time periods rather than following a straightforward chronological structure.
One major part takes place during World War II. Dorrigo is a prisoner of war on the Thailand-Burma Railway, where Australian and other Allied prisoners endure brutal conditions.
Another timeline explores Dorrigo’s life before the war, including his relationship with Amy Mulvaney. Their affair becomes an important emotional thread running through the story.
The later timeline follows Dorrigo as an older surgeon. His wartime experiences continue to affect his life decades after the conflict has ended.
The official Sony Pictures synopsis describes the series as moving from Dorrigo’s beginnings as a medical student in Melbourne, through his wartime experiences in Southeast Asia, to his later years as a respected surgeon in 1980s Sydney.
What comes from the original novel?
Richard Flanagan’s novel also centers on Dorrigo Evans and explores his experiences as a prisoner of war, his relationship with Amy and the consequences of his wartime experiences.
The Booker Prizes describes the novel as a story unfolding over half a century, with Dorrigo haunted by his relationship with his uncle’s wife while trying to save prisoners suffering from starvation, cholera and abuse in the POW camp.
The television series therefore retains the novel’s central characters and themes while restructuring the material for television.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North Cast
The principal confirmed cast includes:
| Actor | Character | What We Know |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob Elordi | Dorrigo Evans | Plays the younger Dorrigo and leads the series |
| Ciarán Hinds | Dorrigo Evans, 1980s | Plays Dorrigo later in life |
| Odessa Young | Amy Mulvaney | Dorrigo’s important pre-war love |
| Olivia DeJonge | Ella Evans | Dorrigo’s wife in the earlier timeline |
| Heather Mitchell | Ella Evans, 1980s | Plays the older Ella |
| Simon Baker | Keith Mulvaney | Dorrigo’s uncle and Amy’s husband |
| Thomas Weatherall | Frank “Darky” Gardiner | Dorrigo’s fellow soldier and friend |
| Shô Kasamatsu | Major Nakamura | Japanese officer connected to Dorrigo’s POW experience |
| Essie Davis | Lynette Maison | A character in Dorrigo’s later life |
| Dan Wyllie | Rick Maison | Lynette’s husband and Dorrigo’s colleague |
| Taki Abe | Colonel Kota | Japanese military officer |
The production’s official information confirms the principal Australian and international cast, while the Sony Pictures page and other established sources confirm the major character relationships.
👉 Jacob Elordi’s role as Nate Jacobs in Euphoria Season 3
Is The Narrow Road to the Deep North Based on a Book?
Yes.
The series is based on Richard Flanagan’s novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
The book won the 2014 Booker Prize, making the television adaptation an adaptation of a highly regarded work of Australian literature. The Booker Prizes identifies Flanagan’s novel as the 2014 winner and describes it as an epic story about love, war, truth and one man’s reckoning with his past.
The novel was published in 2014 in the UK by Chatto & Windus, with an Australian e-book edition appearing in 2013.
The book was also influenced by Flanagan’s family history. His father had been a Japanese prisoner of war and worked as forced labour on the Death Railway.
The television adaptation was written by Shaun Grant and directed by Justin Kurzel.
Jacob Elordi’s Career Before The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Before The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Jacob Elordi had become widely known for playing Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria.
His film work then expanded significantly. His performances in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla and Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn demonstrated that he was moving beyond the image established by his earlier mainstream roles.
The Narrow Road project is particularly interesting because it is an Australian production built around an Australian historical character.
The Guardian noted that although Elordi had played a number of American and British characters, Dorrigo Evans marked his first lead role playing an Australian.
That makes the project more than simply another entry on his acting résumé. It represents a return to an Australian setting while also giving him a complex dramatic lead.
Away from his acting projects, fans are also interested in Jacob Elordi’s daily routine, including how he approaches his mornings, fitness and personal time.
Why The Project Matters for Jacob Elordi
One of the clearest differences between this project and Elordi’s better-known work is the scale and subject matter of the character.
In Euphoria, Elordi played Nate Jacobs, a troubled teenager whose story is rooted in contemporary American high-school life.
In Saltburn, he played Felix Catton, a wealthy British university student whose world revolves around privilege, relationships and social status.
In The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Elordi plays Dorrigo Evans, an Australian doctor whose life becomes intertwined with World War II and imprisonment.
The role therefore moves him into historical drama and places much more emphasis on the consequences of war and the passage of time.
The structure also gives Elordi a distinctive challenge because the same character is ultimately portrayed by two actors. Elordi plays young Dorrigo, while Ciarán Hinds plays him decades later.
Critics have highlighted the connection between the two performances. The Guardian described Elordi and Hinds as providing balanced interpretations of the younger and older Dorrigo.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North Release Date
The Narrow Road to the Deep North premiered on April 18, 2025.
Prime Video released the five-part series on that date. Amazon’s official announcement listed the series among its April 2025 releases, confirming April 18 as its Prime Video premiere.
The series also received an Australian premiere event in April 2025, attended by Elordi, Odessa Young, Olivia DeJonge, Simon Baker, Richard Flanagan, Shaun Grant and Justin Kurzel.
In the UK, the series subsequently premiered on BBC One on July 20, 2025, with episodes also made available through BBC iPlayer.
So readers searching for the Narrow Road to the Deep North release should not expect a future premiere: the first season has already been released.
Where to Watch The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Availability depends on the country.
United States: The series is available through Prime Video. Current listings also show the series on Prime Video in the U.S.
Australia: It is available through Amazon Prime Video.
Canada: Current listings show the series on Amazon Prime Video, including its ad-supported option in applicable markets.
United Kingdom: The series was broadcast on BBC One and made available through BBC iPlayer from July 2025.
India: Current listings show The Narrow Road to the Deep North available through Sony LIV. Sony Pictures Entertainment India also promoted the series for Sony LIV in 2025.
Streaming rights can change, so viewers should check the official service available in their country before subscribing.
Is Jacob Elordi’s Role Different From His Previous Roles?
Yes.
Dorrigo Evans is significantly different from several of Elordi’s most recognizable characters.
Nate Jacobs in Euphoria is a contemporary teenager dealing with family pressure, relationships and personal conflict. Felix Catton in Saltburn is a privileged British university student. Elvis Presley in Priscilla required Elordi to portray a real historical figure.
Dorrigo Evans sits somewhere between those experiences: he is a fictional character, but the story is rooted in a specific historical period and real wartime circumstances.
The role also demands that Elordi carry a story involving military service, imprisonment, romance and the long-term consequences of trauma.
The Guardian’s review described the series as a drama that largely avoids conventional battlefield spectacle and instead focuses on the psychological effects of war.
What We Know About Jacob Elordi’s Other Upcoming Projects
Elordi’s career has continued to expand beyond The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
One major recent project is Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, in which Elordi plays Heathcliff opposite Margot Robbie as Cathy. The official Warner Bros. movie site confirms the casting and the film’s 2026 theatrical release.
Because Elordi’s project slate can change, it is better to distinguish completed releases from genuinely upcoming productions rather than treating every reported casting rumor as confirmed.
For readers specifically interested in his television career, The Narrow Road to the Deep North remains an important project because it gives him a leading role in a serious Australian literary adaptation rather than another contemporary teen or Hollywood character.
Fans can also explore Jacob Elordi’s latest project to see what the actor has lined up after The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jacob Elordi in The Narrow Road to the Deep North?
Yes. Jacob Elordi plays the younger version of Dorrigo Evans, the central character in the five-part series. Ciarán Hinds plays Dorrigo in the 1980s timeline.
What character does Jacob Elordi play?
Elordi plays Dorrigo Evans, an Australian medical student and army doctor whose experiences during World War II become the defining part of his life.
What is The Narrow Road to the Deep North about?
The series follows Dorrigo Evans across several periods of his life, including his pre-war relationship with Amy Mulvaney, his experiences as a prisoner of war on the Thailand-Burma Railway and his later life as a respected surgeon.
Is The Narrow Road to the Deep North based on a true story?
It is not a direct biography of a single real person. The series is a fictional adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s novel. However, the novel was influenced by real historical events and Flanagan’s father’s experience as a Japanese prisoner of war on the Death Railway.
Is The Narrow Road to the Deep North based on a book?
Yes. It is based on Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which won the 2014 Booker Prize.
Where can I watch The Narrow Road to the Deep North?
The series is available on Prime Video in several major markets, including the United States, Australia and Canada. In the UK it aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, while current Indian listings show it on Sony LIV.
When was The Narrow Road to the Deep North released?
The five-part series premiered on April 18, 2025, on Prime Video. Its UK BBC One premiere followed on July 20, 2025.
What other projects is Jacob Elordi working on?
One confirmed major project is Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell, in which Elordi plays Heathcliff opposite Margot Robbie. The film was released theatrically in 2026.
Final Verdict
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is an important Jacob Elordi project because it places him at the center of a serious historical drama adapted from a Booker Prize-winning Australian novel.
His performance as the younger Dorrigo Evans anchors the character’s early life, while Ciarán Hinds takes over the role in the later timeline. The result is a story that connects romance and wartime survival with the longer consequences of memory and trauma.
For viewers who know Elordi mainly from Euphoria, Saltburn or Priscilla, this series offers a different look at his range. It is also a particularly relevant project for fans interested in his Australian roots and his development as a leading dramatic actor.
Editorial Note
Project information, streaming rights and regional availability can change. This article should be updated when official information from the production, broadcaster or streaming service changes. It does not claim first-hand interviews or access to the cast or production team.
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