Invisible Boys
| Invisible Boys | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by |
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| Based on | Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 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
[edit]Set against the backdrop of Australia’s 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, Invisible Boys explores the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal city of Geraldton, Western Australia after one of them is outed on social media following an encounter with a married man. As they form a tight-knit friendship, the boys find solace and support in one another, exploring their desires and identities in a world that often renders them invisible.[4]
Cast
[edit]On 12 March 2024 the cast for the series was announced.[5]
- 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
- Myles Pollard as Jack Hammersmith
- Shareena Clanton as Karla Hammersmith
- Mercy Cornwall as Rochelle Griffin
- David Lyons as Father Mulroney
- Khan Chittenden as Cal Roth
- Catherine Moore as Miss Collard
- Hayley McElhinney as Nadine Roth
- Jade Baynes as Bec
- Elaine Crombie as Aunty Doris
Production
[edit]The book was optioned by Nicholas Verso in 2020.[6]
The series was announced as a commissioned series in 2023.[3]
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.[7][8] Created for television, written, and directed by Nicholas Verso alongside an impressive writing team including Enoch Mailangi, Walkley Award-winning writer Allan Clarke, and Artistic Director of Griffin Theatre, Declan Greene.[4]
The series also filmed around Geraldton's Sunset Beach, Ocean Road Hotel, the foreshore and the Macedonian club where during filming local roads were closed to only local traffic.[9]
Episodes
[edit]| 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 |
Release
[edit]On 23 January 2025, it was announced that all episodes would be released on Stan on 13 February 2025.[10]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]Stephen A. Russell for ScreenHub describes Invisible Boys as a "gloriously messy marvel I wish I’d had access to as a tortured teen."[11] In The Conversation, Damien O'Meara noted the significance of the "gritty" and "real" representations as carrying forward the traditions of Australian teen drama.[12] 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."[12]
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."[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Invisible Boys | February 13 | Stan Originals". Stan. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ Thomas, Shibu (2023-09-01). "Holden Sheppard's Gay YA Novel Invisible Boys Is Being Made Into A TV Series". Star Observer. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ a b Knox, David (2023-08-30). "Stan commissions 3 new local dramas | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ a b Gannon, Eamon (2025-01-22). "GROUNDBREAKING LGBTQIA+ STAN ORIGINAL SERIES INVISIBLE BOYS TO PREMIERE FEBRUARY 13, ONLY ON STAN". Stan. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
- ^ Dalgarno, Paul (2024-03-12). "Invisible Boys, Stan: first look and cast announcements | ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". www.screenhub.com.au. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ Mem: 7604712. "'Invisible Boys' optioned for film and TV | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2025-02-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Knox, David (2024-03-15). "Invisible Boys filming in WA | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ "Stan series Invisible Boys films on Glendinning Road". Geraldton Guardian. 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ "Not so invisible! Stan hysteria hits town". Geraldton Guardian. 2024-02-15. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
- ^ Knox, David (23 January 2025). "Airdate: Invisible Boys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "Invisible Boys, Stan review: a gloriously messy marvel | ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". www.screenhub.com.au. 2025-02-10. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ a b O'Meara, Damien (2025-02-12). "Stan's Invisible Boys carries the tradition of real, gritty Aussie teen drama, while smashing it into something new". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ Nguyen, Giselle Au-Nhien (2025-02-13). "Invisible Boys review – heartfelt queer drama tilts towards trauma porn". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-02-13.