Jacob Elordi is back in his native Australia this July starring in the miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North, an emotionally charged drama exploring love and the brutal realities of war. The series, based on Richard Flanagan’s 2013 Man Booker Prize-winning novel, follows Elordi’s character, Dorrigo Evans, through several timelines culminating in his harrowing experience as a prisoner-of-war on the Thai-Burma railway during World War II. This project marks a significant moment in Elordi’s career, combining demanding physical and psychological challenges that highlight his commitment to complex roles.
Portraying Dorrigo Evans: A Deep Dive Into History and Emotion
Elordi spent a full year preparing for the role of Dorrigo Evans, immersing himself in extensive research about the historical context and personal struggles faced by those connected to the Burma railway. This careful preparation aimed to capture the multifaceted nature of Dorrigo, a medical student torn between his love for Amy, played by Odessa Young, and the brutal realities of wartime captivity. The story also incorporates an older Dorrigo, portrayed by Irish actor Ciarán Hinds, to weave together the character’s emotional and physical journeys across decades.
Reflecting on his preparation, Elordi explained,
“So it was just a year of immersing myself in history and literature and then getting to shoot the thing and having to put all my books away and actually shut up and act!” —Jacob Elordi
This disciplined approach ensured the authenticity of the portrayal while honoring the legacy of those who suffered building the railway.
Director Justin Kurzel’s Vision Brings Literary Masterpiece to Screen
Directed by fellow Australian Justin Kurzel, who has previously worked with actors like Michael Fassbender and Jude Law, the adaptation was personally commissioned by Richard Flanagan himself. Kurzel emphasized the story’s significance, noting the impact of the Burma railway tragedy on Australians.
He expressed,
“Richard is regarded as one of our greatest writers, And what he’s writing about… the story of the Burma railway, and how many Australians died on the railways, [it’s] something that’s really significant. So there’s a legacy there that’s important.” —Justin Kurzel
The series has inevitably drawn comparisons to the 1983 BAFTA-winning film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, which also explored the intimate bonds formed in prisoner-of-war camps during the same era. Elordi sees a shared emotional core in both works,
“Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence captures the intimacy of the soldiers when they’re all laid together sick and they’re singing and the humour between the men in this horrible time, I think that film does a really great job of capturing that in the same way that I hope we do as well, the kind of tenderness between men in these situations.” —Jacob Elordi
Interweaving a Love Story Amidst War’s Harshest Realities
While The Narrow Road to the Deep North is framed by the brutal experience of war, its emotional core is a profound love story. Kurzel described the narrative as being told through the lens of a young man’s transformative relationship,
“It’s told through a lens of a love story, It’s told through this young man who has this extraordinary love affair that completely changes him and rocks him in a way.” —Justin Kurzel
He added that the remnants of this love profoundly influence the POW scenes, contrasting the violence and trauma with intimate human connection. Kurzel observed,
“the residue of that love affair is felt in the prisoner-of-war scenes, next to the violence and the trauma and the unfathomable experiences. So I found the intimacy of that and the beauty of that very unusual. It felt quite present to today.” —Justin Kurzel
Challenging Production Emulating Theatre-Like Intensity
The filming took place in New South Wales, which stood in for the dense Southeast Asian jungles. The shoot demanded significant physical endurance, with Elordi losing approximately 20 pounds over six weeks. The experience was immersive and continuous, with few breaks for the actors to step out of their roles.
Elordi described the process as closer to theatre than film sets he’d previously encountered, saying,
“If anything, the performance aspect of making this show was more like theatre, because from the moment we would leave our trailers and we’d march to set together, we’d walk as a unit. The set was alive. There was no setting up or waiting for lights. You were there and you were in character and you were playing it for real. So it’s closer to theatre than any other experience I’ve had on a film set.” —Jacob Elordi
Despite the physical toll, Elordi said adjusting back to normal routines after filming was the most challenging part,
“The main thing was, we had physically changed so much. So there was just getting used to food and things like that again, but mentally, it wasn’t a great suffering or anything.” —Jacob Elordi
Personal Growth Through the Role of Dorrigo Evans
Playing such a layered character had a subtle effect on Elordi himself. He reflected on what he took away from embodying Dorrigo, saying,
“I don’t have any traumatic lesson learned from Dorrigo Evans. I probably learned to be a bit quieter from him. Maybe.” —Jacob Elordi
The project also marked Elordi’s first substantial work with an Australian crew on home soil, which he described as a meaningful experience given his previous international career trajectory,
“I had not really worked in Australia before. I’d only done a few things when I was younger that were quite silly. So this was my first time working with an Australian crew and working at home.” —Jacob Elordi
Director Kurzel’s Confidence in Elordi’s Talent for the Role
Kurzel praised Elordi’s previous work and noted that the actor’s natural presence embodied the dignity and poise necessary for Dorrigo. He emphasized the importance of capturing subtle inner emotions behind the character’s composed exterior,
“I think it was a combination of his body of work that I started seeing, I was super impressed by him, and there was just something also very immersive and at the same time cinematic about his feel on screen. But there was a quality about him that really spoke to Dorrigo.” —Justin Kurzel
Kurzel elaborated,
“There was a dignity and grace and poise to Dorrigo. I knew we’d need to do a lot of filming, of seeing this man observe and watch and take in and get these little, nuanced moments of what he was feeling amongst this really powerful exterior.” —Justin Kurzel
Jacob Elordi’s Continuing Rise in Film and Television
At 28, Elordi’s career continues to expand with roles in highly anticipated projects. He recently completed filming a new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell, where he plays Heathcliff opposite Margot Robbie’s Catherine. He is also set to star as the Monster in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming film Frankenstein, underscoring his affinity for working with visionary directors.
Elordi’s passion for meaningful cinema is clear when he states,
“Movies are the most important thing in the world to me, I never want to be a part of this endless stream of dull entertainment that’s there to make money. I want to be a part of these artists’ visions. I want to be a part of art.” —Jacob Elordi
Release Details and Viewing Information
The Narrow Road to the Deep North premieres on BBC One and iPlayer at 9:15 pm on Sunday, 20th July. The five-part series offers a powerful blend of historical drama and emotional storytelling, promising a cinematic experience that emphasizes both the horrors of war and the transformative power of love.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Zendaya leave Jacob Elordi?
A. The Euphoria actors ended their relationship because one of them was unfaithful.
Q. How long did Jacob Elordi and Zendaya date?
A. Zendaya and someone were linked from August 2019 until the early months of 2020.
