Jacob Elordi appears set to have a bustling year ahead with a slew of high-profile projects. Soon to feature in Guillermo del Toro’s eagerly awaited “Frankenstein,” he is also working on Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights.” However, during an interview held recently in Berlin, Elordi, sporting wilder-than-usual curly Heathcliff hair and sideburns, expressed keen anticipation for his upcoming Australian TV series “The Narrow Road to the Deep North.”
This series is spearheaded by fellow Australian, director Justin Kurzel, and is an adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s acclaimed Man-Booker prize-winning novel of the same name. It chronicles the story of Dorrigo Evans, a medical officer forced into labor on the Thai-Burma railway in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during World War II. Notably, Kurzel and Flanagan, both Tasmanians, conceptualized the TV series idea at a casual barbeque back home following Flanagan’s literary award victory.
“The Narrow Road to the Deep North” is set to debut in Australia via Prime Video on April 18 before heading to Sky and WOW in Germany for the summer. Plans for additional territories are yet to be publicized. The narrative unfolds through three timelines — pre-war, during the war, and post-war — merging and overlapping as the story progresses.
Though the series grapples with the intense themes of courage and the horrors of war, at its core lies a poignant love story. Dorrigo, though married, is persistently haunted by recollections of an affair with his uncle’s wife, Amy, portrayed by Odessa Young. These past memories emerge as both sustaining and tormenting elements of his existence.
Kurzel described the romantic aspect as “the absolute spirit of the whole series.” Initially, Elordi admits feeling “pretty frightened” about translating this element onto the screen, fearing it might overshadow the war-centric aspects of the novel. However, Kurzel’s unique approach to shooting those scenes helped change his perspective. “He created a space where it was incredibly raw, real, and gentle,” Elordi noted, marking the love storyline as a favorite part of the filmmaking experience.
Kurzel approached the love story with extreme caution and curiosity, as it was his first venture into this genre through collaboration with Elordi and Odessa. With the love story filmed first, Elordi could effectively shape his portrayal of a haunted Dorrigo when the filming transitioned into the WWII prison camp sequences.
Elordi also highlighted how carrying the memories of filming with Odessa Young and Olivia DeJonge contributed deeply to his performance, true to Richard Flanagan’s original narrative. The dual elements of love and war interlace to portray a fuller life.
Casting Elordi as Dorrigo was straightforward for Kurzel, who instantly recognized his suitability for the role. The project demanded significant commitment, particularly as all actors playing soldiers undertook dramatic weight loss to authentically depict prisoners of war, adding gravitas to the portrayal. Their dedication meant every shooting day came packed with anticipation and seriousness.
The crew was acutely aware of the actors’ physical transformations, which beefed up the intensity and honesty of the scenes being captured — though such drastic physical conditions also meant that precision had to be maintained throughout filming.
Reflecting on the intense preparation, Elordi credited the collective effort, which included background actors, in making this journey one of transformation worthy of admiration. Returning after a filming break, he was deeply moved by the visible commitment and shifts observed in the crew.
The series doesn’t just revisit war themes; it marks another unique experience for Elordi, having played both younger and older versions of characters, as evidenced by his previous work in Paul Schrader’s “Oh, Canada.” In “The Narrow Road to the Deep North,” Irish actor Ciarán Hinds embodies the aged Dorrigo. Humorously pondering who could portray an older version of himself next, Elordi suggested, with a grin, none other than Meryl Streep.
Despite the spotlight and inevitable rise in fame, Elordi remains grounded in gratitude, with filmmaking being his ultimate dream. Amidst his growing list of collaborations and projects, he reflects on his craft with jubilation: “I get to make movies a lot, and that is my dream so I am probably the luckiest man alive.”