First look at Netflix’s ‘Boy Swallows Universe’ teaser trailer

Netflix has unveiled the official teaser for its adaptation of Brisbane author Trent Dalton’s best-selling book Boy Swallows Universe, starring some of Australia’s biggest actors. WATCH THE TRAILER

It’s a moment Brisbane has eagerly anticipated – the first breathtaking visuals from the Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton’s international bestseller, Boy Swallows Universe.

And if the teaser is anything to go by, the series promises to deliver an incredible watch, capturing the raw beauty and energy of our beloved River City.

The 1-minute 13-second trailer reveals a heart-racing blend of high drama and suspense, intertwined with glimpses of iconic Brisbane locations, notably the Story Bridge, set to Paul Kelly’s 1989 song Dumb Things.

Netflix has yet to pin a release date, leaving fans in suspense with a tantalising “coming soon” at the trailer’s end.

Still of Phoebe Tonkin in teaser trailer of 'Boy Swallows Universe'. Photo: Netflix

Set against the backdrop of 1980s Brisbane, Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe portrays the rollercoaster journey of Eli Bell, a young Brisbane lad caught between the magic of childhood and the harrowing reality of adulthood.

Eli, alongside his prophetic brother and a jail-breaking best friend, dives into the heroin-laden underworld of Queensland, struggling with a world of addiction, crime, and a desperate search for redemption.

Still from 'Boy Swallows Universe' teaser trailer. Photo: Netflix

As the novel reached staggering heights, becoming Australia’s fastest-selling debut and amassing numerous accolades, it was inevitable that the story would find its way to the screen.

With an ensemble cast, the adaptation promises stellar performances from the likes of Simon Baker, Phoebe Tonkin, Travis Fimmel, and Deborah Mailman, among others.

Directorial heavyweights, Bharat Nalluri, Jocelyn Moorhouse, and Kim Mordaunt, took the helm of the series, with the accomplished John Collee crafting the screenplay.

Names like Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Sophie Gardiner, and Joel Edgerton as executive producers further affirm the series’ top-tier production quality.

Not only is this series a tribute to Dalton’s masterful storytelling, but it also stands as a testament to Queensland’s growing film industry.

Filmed over eight months across the city, the project, backed by the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy, was expected to inject a staggering $33 million into the local economy, offering 185 jobs for cast and crew and providing roles for 2500 extras.