Invisible Boys
| Invisible Boys | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | Nicholas Verso |
| Based on | Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | Nicholas Verso |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Stan |
| Release | 13 February 2025 |
Invisible Boys is an Australian drama for Stan[1] that premiered on 13 February 2025. It is created and directed by Nicholas Verso, adapted from the novel of the same name by Holden Sheppard.[2] The series follows the challenges of teens in the coastal city of Geraldton in Western Australia following the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, it focuses on finding friendships, solace and understanding on what makes them "invisible".[3]
Plot
During the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, a group of teens in the remote coastal city of Geraldton, Western Australia must explore the challenges of social media after one them is outed on social media after an encounter with a straight man. The group band together to find solace, strengthen their friendships and begin understanding on what made them previously invisible, and why they must continue to support each other.[4]
Cast
- Joseph Zada as Charlie Roth
- Joe Klocek as Matt Jones
- Aydan Calafiore as Zeke Calogero
- Zach Blampied as Kade 'Hammer' Hammersmith
- Pia Miranda as Anna Calogero
- David Lyons as Father Mulroney
- Myles Pollard as Jack Hammersmith
- Shareena Clanton as Karla Hammersmith
- Elaine Crombie as Aunty Doris
- Mercy Cornwall as Rochelle Griffin
- Khan Chittenden as Cal Roth
- Hayley McElhinney as Nadine Roth
- Jamie Ward as Lorenzo Calogero
- Catherine Moore as Miss Collard
- Jade Baynes as Bec
- Isaac Davies as Ian Orcher
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Apps" | Nicholas Verso | Nicholas Verso | 13 February 2025 |
| 2 | "Webcam" | Nicholas Verso | Nicholas Verso | 13 February 2025 |
| 3 | "Drive In" | Nicholas Verso | Allan Clarke | 13 February 2025 |
| 4 | "Sauce" | Nicholas Verso | Holden Sheppard & Nicholas Verso | 13 February 2025 |
| 5 | "The Date" | Nicholas Verso | Enoch Mailangi | 13 February 2025 |
| 6 | "The Coming Out Ball" | Nicholas Verso | Enoch Mailangi | 13 February 2025 |
| 7 | "Country" | Nicholas Verso | Allan Clarke | 13 February 2025 |
| 8 | "Cake" | Nicholas Verso | Holden Sheppard & Nicholas Verso | 13 February 2025 |
| 9 | "Bees" | Nicholas Verso | Declan Greene | 13 February 2025 |
| 10 | "Sunset" | Nicholas Verso | Nicholas Verso | 13 February 2025 |
Production
The series is based on the novel of the same name written by Holden Sheppard, which was optioned by Nicholas Verso in 2020.[5]
Stan announced the drama as a commissioned series in 2023.[3] The series was adapted, written and directed by Nicholas Verso alongside writers Enoch Mailangi, Allan Clarke, Holden Sheppard and Declan Greene.[6] On 12 March 2024, the cast for the series was announced.[7]
On 15 March 2024, it was announced that the series had begun production in Western Australia with the 10 part series filming in Geraldton, Western Australia.[6][8] Filming locations included the Sunset Beach, Ocean Road Hotel, foreshore and Macedonian club.[9]
The series contains some major changes to the book, particularly relating to Hammer and Matt's plotlines and moving the story to 2017 to feature the Australian same-sex marriage plebiscite. Hammer is now a First Nations character facing racism as well as his sexuality.[10] Matt's storyline on the farm deviates significantly from the book. The female characters are also expanded and rewritten (Bec, Sabrina, Rochelle, Nadine, Karla), along with several new characters, including Aunty Doris and Ian Orcher.[11]
Release
On 23 January 2025, it was announced that all episodes would be released on Stan on 13 February 2025.[12]
Reception
Critical response
Stephen A. Russell for ScreenHub describes Invisible Boys as a "gloriously messy marvel I wish I’d had access to as a tortured teen."[10] In The Conversation, Damien O'Meara noted the significance of the "gritty" and "real" representations as carrying forward the traditions of Australian teen drama.[13] He praises the series for standing against trends towards gay respectability politics, noting how "the horny gay teen isn’t hidden away in Invisible Boys – nor are his choices always comfortable."[13]
The series does face some criticism for its engagement with experiences of trauma. Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen from Guardian Australia critiques ways Invisible Boys "begins to play into the cliche that queerness and relentless trauma go hand in hand, and veers close to trauma porn with a major plot event."[14]
References
- ^ "Invisible Boys | February 13 | Stan Originals". Stan. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ Thomas, Shibu (1 September 2023). "Holden Sheppard's Gay YA Novel Invisible Boys Is Being Made Into A TV Series". Star Observer. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ a b Knox, David (30 August 2023). "Stan commissions 3 new local dramas". tvtonight.com.au. TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ Writers, Staff (23 January 2025). "Groundbreaking LGBTQIA+ Series Invisible Boys Hitting Stan In February". scenestr.com.au. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ Mem: 7604712. "'Invisible Boys' optioned for film and TV". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Knox, David (15 March 2024). "Invisible Boys filming in WA". tvtonight.com.au. TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ Dalgarno, Paul (12 March 2024). "Invisible Boys, Stan: first look and cast announcements | ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". www.screenhub.com.au. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "Stan series Invisible Boys films on Glendinning Road". Geraldton Guardian. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "Not so invisible! Stan hysteria hits town". Geraldton Guardian. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Invisible Boys, Stan review: a gloriously messy marvel | ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". www.screenhub.com.au. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ Aimée, Lindorff (6 February 2025). "Nicholas Verso on adapting Invisible Boys for television". Screen Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ Knox, David (23 January 2025). "Airdate: Invisible Boys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ a b O'Meara, Damien (12 February 2025). "Stan's Invisible Boys carries the tradition of real, gritty Aussie teen drama, while smashing it into something new". The Conversation. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ Nguyen, Giselle Au-Nhien (13 February 2025). "Invisible Boys review – heartfelt queer drama tilts towards trauma porn". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 February 2025.