Some stories cut so deep they leave a scar. Prime Video's The Narrow Road to the Deep North, based on Richard Flanagan's Booker Prize-winning novel, promises to be one such tale. The first trailer has arrived, offering a harrowing glimpse into the psychological torment of war and forbidden love, brought to life by Euphoria and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi. With the chilling words, “We all left part of ourselves in that jungle,” the series immediately sets a tone of loss, resilience, and reckoning.
A Story of War, Love, and Haunted Memories
Set against the backdrop of World War II, The Narrow Road to the Deep North follows Dorrigo Evans (played by Jacob Elordi as a young man and Ciarán Hinds as his older self), an Australian surgeon turned prisoner of war. Captured by the Japanese and forced to work on the Thai-Burma railway, Evans endures unthinkable hardships while grappling with the memory of a passionate affair with Amy Mulvaney (Odessa Young), his uncle's wife. Their love story, sparked by a chance meeting in a bookshop, becomes both his refuge and torment.
The series presents a dual narrative, contrasting the brutality of war with the delicate, painful beauty of a love that should never have been. As Evans navigates his post-war years as a revered surgeon and reluctant hero, he remains shackled by the ghosts of his past—both the men lost on the railway and the woman he could never forget.
Cast, Crew, and Production
Directed by Justin Kurzel (Macbeth, Nitram), the series boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including:
- Jacob Elordi (Euphoria, Priscilla) as young Dorrigo Evans
- Ciarán Hinds (Belfast, Game of Thrones) as older Dorrigo
- Odessa Young (The Daughter, Mothering Sunday) as Amy Mulvaney
- Olivia DeJonge (Elvis, The Visit)
- Simon Baker (The Mentalist, Breath)
- Show Kasamatsu (Tokyo Vice)
The screenplay is penned by Shaun Grant (Nitram, Berlin Syndrome), with Kurzel also serving as co-creator. Produced by Curio Pictures, Screen Australia, and Sony Television, the series first premiered at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival, receiving early praise for its emotional depth and stark realism. It is set to stream on Prime Video starting April 18, 2025.
What the Trailer Reveals
The first glimpse of The Narrow Road to the Deep North is nothing short of haunting. The trailer oscillates between sun-drenched memories of Amy and the grueling horrors of the POW camp. There's a visceral quality to Kurzel's direction—sweat-drenched bodies laboring on the railway, desperate faces, and moments of fleeting tenderness crushed by war's merciless grip.
Elordi, shedding his heartthrob image, delivers what appears to be his most complex role yet. His portrayal of Evans suggests a man teetering on the edge of sanity, trapped between past and present, love and duty, survival and despair. The supporting cast adds further gravitas, particularly Ciarán Hinds, whose somber, world-weary presence reinforces the weight of a lifetime spent haunted by loss.
With its poetic yet devastating source material, a powerhouse cast, and the bold vision of Justin Kurzel, The Narrow Road to the Deep North has all the makings of a prestige drama. If the trailer is any indication, this series will be more than just another wartime saga—it's a meditation on love's fragility, the cost of survival, and the ghosts we carry.
Could this be Elordi's defining performance? Will Kurzel's adaptation capture the haunting beauty of Flanagan's novel? One thing's certain: this is a journey worth taking.
Do you think Jacob Elordi has what it takes to carry such a harrowing role? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
