Jacob Elordi’s gripping portrayal in
“The Narrow Road to the Deep North”
has sparked enthusiastic reviews worldwide following the limited series’ debut on Amazon Prime in April. The collaboration between Elordi and celebrated Australian director Justin Kurzel on this adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s acclaimed novel has highlighted the depth and talent of both artists, with the focus keyword Jacob Elordi performance in The Narrow Road to the Deep North at the core of every discussion.
Building a Collaborative Foundation for the Series
Before production began, Elordi and Kurzel had already developed a deep appreciation for each other’s work. Elordi, who admired Kurzel’s 2011 film “Snowtown” as a teenager, never predicted he would be offered the lead role of Dorrigo Evans by the director he long respected. Kurzel, for his part, had closely followed Elordi’s career in projects like “Euphoria,” “Priscilla,” and “Saltburn” and considered him an ideal fit for the challenging role of Evans, a soldier whose love for his uncle’s wife supports him during the ordeal of life in a WWII Japanese labor camp. Kurzel initially reached out to Elordi by email to pitch the adaptation, while Elordi had coincidentally planned to connect with Kurzel himself.
The opportunity to work together emerged organically, with both men eager to explore each other’s creative approaches. Elordi’s admiration was rooted in Kurzel’s unique storytelling in the Australian film landscape, while Kurzel recognized Elordi’s rapid rise as an actor of substance. The partnership was built on a mutual respect and curiosity about their craft.
Forging a Creative Bond During Early Meetings
Their first in-depth discussion confirmed to both the director and actor that they were aligned in their dedication to storytelling. Kurzel recalled,
“He’s a cinephile. We had these great conversations about films, about approaching characters and the way we both want to work,”
-Justin Kurzel, Director. He also offered high praise, stating,
“Jacob is the real deal; he’s incredibly curious about the craft of acting and wants to get the most out of it. Sometimes you can just sort of feel that something’s going to be really special,”
-Justin Kurzel, Director.
Elordi reflected on the personal significance of the collaboration, saying,
“It’s a great example of why you should meet your heroes,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor. The experience exceeded even his high expectations, marking a turning point in his career.
A Distinctive Adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s Novel
After
“The Narrow Road to the Deep North”
premiered, the series was immediately lauded for its emotional authenticity, especially Elordi’s raw depiction of Dorrigo Evans. Kurzel felt both the pressure and pride in adapting Flanagan’s beloved novel, partly because of his friendship with the author. He revealed,
“I’m always cautious about adapting novels as people obviously fall in love with the book. You worry it’s never to be as intimate as someone’s imagination,”
-Justin Kurzel, Director.
Kurzel credited Flanagan’s approach to adaptation. The author encouraged artistic freedom, sharing,
“But Richard did something really wonderful. He said, ‘It’s really important that it’s yours, that you find a way into it and don’t be precious about it. Make sure it’s something distinct for you,’”
-Justin Kurzel, Director. This permission allowed Kurzel and Elordi to craft a series that stands apart while honoring the original narrative.
Embracing a Role Rooted in Home and History
For Elordi, the opportunity to play Dorrigo — using his natural Australian accent — represented a powerful personal milestone. He acknowledged,
“That’s something I’ve always wanted to do,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor. He elaborated on the difference,
“Because that’s how you act at home. And sometimes you can feel like you’re acting on top of acting when you’re telling a different nation’s story,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor. Elordi also hoped the series would highlight Australia’s sacrifices and contributions during wartime. He expressed his pride, stating,
“It’s really important to me that our cinema plays internationally. I’m just really proud to be able to act in something from home that is, to me, of great substance,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor.
To capture the emotional arc of Dorrigo Evans, Elordi began filming with early flashback scenes depicting the blossoming romance between Dorrigo and Amy, portrayed by Odessa Young. This method granted Elordi and Young two full weeks to rehearse, establishing a believable relationship despite only one brief encounter and no chemistry read during casting.
Physical and Emotional Commitments Behind the Role
After shooting the love story, the cast transitioned to the grueling POW camp sequences — a dramatic shift, especially as Elordi lost around 20 pounds in six weeks, a period that included the holiday season. Kurzel emphasized, “It happened over Christmas, too!”
Elordi minimized the hardship of the physical transformation, focusing instead on his mental process and commitment to the role. He likened the gradual preparation to altitude training, explaining,
“Month by month, I just sort of cut little bits of my normal life off so by the time I got there, I was in a space where I could really be in it,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor. Kurzel aided the actors with a role-specific manifesto to guide their character development. For the role of a doctor, Elordi picked up skills like tying surgical knots, although he joked about his fleeting memory of these lessons:
“I love picking things up but then I feel incredibly stupid because as soon as it’s finished, everything just goes away. I can’t remember a bloody thing,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor. He added humor,
“But I can do a leg amputation, if you like,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor.
Transforming Past and Present Onscreen
Elordi credited shooting the love story first as essential to portraying Dorrigo Evans’ pain and hope in the POW camp scenes, as memories of his time with Amy (Odessa Young), and later with the older Dorrigo (Ciarán Hinds), informed every moment. The duality of the romance and the brutality of imprisonment created a layered character study that critics and viewers embraced.
The demanding shoot required resilience from the entire cast. Elordi spotlighted Kurzel’s leadership:
“Justin had made it really clear to all of us: ‘This is going to be incredibly tough if you want to do it the right way, which is how it needs to sort of be done. But I promise you, you’ll, you’ll remember this forever,’”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor. He continued,
“And when you have a leader that you trust and believe in as an artist telling you something like that, you’re all in,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor.
Summing up his experience, Elordi offered a simple sentiment:
“It’s not hard if you really love what you do,”
-Jacob Elordi, Actor.
Legacy and Lasting Impact of Elordi’s Performance
Jacob Elordi’s performance in The Narrow Road to the Deep North — in collaboration with Justin Kurzel, Richard Flanagan, Odessa Young, and Ciarán Hinds — illustrates the depth possible when a talented cast and creative team unite over a story rooted in national identity and history. The attention garnered by the series and Elordi’s commitment has brought global focus not only to his personal abilities but also to the broader contributions of Australian cinema and wartime narratives. As more viewers discover the emotional resonance of the series, Elordi’s work as Dorrigo Evans is poised to influence both audiences and future projects, marking a pivotal moment for all involved.
