The Narrow Road to the Deep North has finally bound a U.S. distributor, and its premiere date is sooner than anyone likely expected. Prime Video, whose Australian arm played a key role in the creation of the drama, has announced a surprise release of the series this April. (Technically, in just a few days' time.) It's also a surprise because back in February, just before it debuted at Berlinale, there were reports that HBO and Max were picking up the rights. Turned out they did... but only in Europe. With no American distributor and a global release on April 18, Amazon announced on April 13 that it had finally found one... Amazon's Prime Video.
The five-part Australian series is based on Richard Flanagan's 2014 Man Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name. Though it is a fictional account of the war, it is at least partially inspired by real stories, including the experiences of Flanagan's own father and the famous Edward “Weary” Dunlop. The Narrow Road to the Deep North follows the life of Lieutenant-Colonel Dorrigo Evans through the early days of the war, a passionate love affair with his uncle's wife, and his experiences as a Japanese prisoner of war when he was forced to work on the construction of the Thailand-Burma Railway.
Over 13,000 Australians were put to work on the so-called "death" railway, which claimed the lives of over 90,000 Asian civilians and 16,000 prisoners, including 2,800 Australians. (Its construction is considered a war crime by Japan.) Saltburn star Jacob Elordi plays Evans, with Ciarán Hinds (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) taking over the role as an older Evans, who remains haunted by his experiences and uncomfortable with his image as a war hero.
Here's the series synopsis. The series is a five-part saga charting the life of Dorrigo Evans, including his passionate love affair with Amy Mulvaney, his time held captive in a WW2 POW camp, and his later years as a revered surgeon and reluctant war hero. An intimate character study of a complex man, the epic drama is a compelling portrayal of the courage and cruelty of war and a timeless love story that sustains one through the darkest of times.
Alongside Elordi and Hinds, the series lead cast includes Odessa Young (Mothering Sunday) as Amy Mulvaney. Supporting cast includes Olivia DeJonge (The Staircase), Heather Mitchell (The Secrets She Keeps), Thomas Weatherall (Royal Flying Doctor Service), Charles An (Last King of the Cross), Shô Kasamatsu (Dear Patient), Taki Abe (The Wolverine), Simon Baker (The Mentalist), and Masa Yamaguchi (The Brighton Miracle).
The five-episode series is adapted and written by Shaun Grant (Snowtown) and directed by Justin Kurzel (The Order). Executive producers include Flanagan, Grant, and Kurzel, alongside Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner for Curio Pictures. Alexandra Taussig is the producer.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North will premiere with all episodes on Prime Video on Friday, April 18, 2025. In addition to this highly anticipated release, Amazon Prime Video is also showcasing a selection of action-packed films this month.
Three action movies on Amazon Prime Video to watch in April 2025 include G20, The Contractor, and Highlander. G20 stars Viola Davis as Danielle Sutton, the President of the United States, who attends the G20 summit in Cape Town, South Africa, when terrorists take over. The film, which has received mixed reviews, is a thriller that showcases Davis's performance, which has been praised across the board.
The Contractor features Chris Pine as James Harper, a discharged Green Beret who takes on dangerous jobs and discovers a bio-agent plot against America. Although the film is described as predictable, Pine's performance has been highlighted as a strong point. Highlander, a classic from the '80s, centers around immortal warriors and is worth revisiting, especially with a reboot in the works starring Henry Cavill.
In the realm of miniseries, Fellow Travelers, starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey, is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on April 17, 2025. This political thriller chronicles the clandestine romance of two very different men who meet in McCarthy-era Washington. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a turbulent time in history, filled with challenges and societal pressures.
The cast includes Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, Jelani Alladin, Linus Roache, Noah J Ricketts, and Allison Williams. Fellow Travelers is created by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Uta Briesewitz, Destiny Eargha, James Kent, and Daniel Minahan, showcasing a talented team behind the scenes.
As April continues, the Malayalam cinema landscape is also bustling with new releases. This week, several films are making their way to streaming platforms, including Dasettante Cycle, Bad Boyz, Gentlewoman, and Daveed. Dasettante Cycle, directed by Akhil Kavungal, began streaming on Manorama Max on April 13, 2025, featuring a charming story about life-changing events surrounding a bicycle.
Bad Boyz, an action-comedy starring Rahman and Babu Antony, is now available on both Amazon Prime Video and Manorama Max. Gentlewoman, directed by Joshua Sethuraman, tackles significant social issues and began streaming on Tentkotta on April 14, 2025. Finally, the sports drama Daveed, starring Antony Varghese and Mo Ismail, will premiere on Zee5 on April 18, 2025.
With these diverse releases spanning different genres, both international and local audiences have plenty to look forward to on streaming platforms this April. Whether viewers are interested in war dramas, political thrillers, action-packed films, or socially relevant stories, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
