Invisible Boys Series Greenlit by Stan

Invisible Boys, based on the book by the same name by Holden Sheppard, has been commissioned by Stan to become a ten-part original drama series.

Stan commissioned the series with Screenwest following a joint development initiative to foster local talent and spark the development of new series in Western Australia. Production investment comes from Screen Australia, Screenwest, Lotterywest and the WA Regional Screen Fund. The series is internationally distributed by Banijay Rights.

Invisible Boys explores the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal town of Geraldton, Western Australia, after one of them is outed on social media following an encounter with a married man. The boys find solace and support in one another, exploring their desires and identities in a world that renders them invisible.

Produced by Tania Chambers (How to Please a Woman, Kill Me Three Times), the series is created and directed by Nicholas Verso (Crazy Fun Park, Boys In The Trees, Itch), working alongside a writing team of Sheppard, Enoch Mailangi (All My Friends Are Racist, Year Of), Allan Clarke (The Dark Emu Story) and Declan Greene.

Cailah Scobie, chief content officer for Stan, said: “Bound to captivate a diverse range of Australian audiences, the Stan Original Series Invisible Boys highlights our commitment to invest in local content that champions Australian voices and narratives. This unique drama has attracted the prestigious international partner Banijay Rights, signifying the global reach and relevance of Stan Original content. We are thankful for the ongoing support of Screen Australia, alongside our other key partners Screenwest, Lotterywest and the WA Regional Screen Fund, and look forward to working with creator and director Nicholas Verso and producer Tania Chambers.”

Simon Cox, executive VP of content acquisitions for Banijay Rights, commented: “Nick and Tania’s vision for this adaptation of Holden Sheppard’s acclaimed novel really sets apart this project as a unique and gripping coming-of-age story told against a beautiful and often unseen backdrop of a Western Australian coastal town. We are delighted to be the international partner of this diverse series and to take this drama to audiences worldwide.”

“Screenwest is beyond excited to see local production company Feisty Dame secure a Stan Original Series based on a homegrown Western Australian story,” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest’s CEO. “The Western Australian screen sector is experiencing its busiest year to date with local creatives, crew and production companies making unprecedented levels of screen content showcasing Western Australian stories and locations to audiences around the world. Congratulations to Tania, Nick and Holden! We look forward to seeing Invisible Boys move into production in the midwest in the near future.”

Grainne Brunsdon, Screen Australia’s head of content, added: “As the first homegrown LGBTQIA+ teen/young adult series to be made in Western Australia, Invisible Boys boldly navigates uncharted territory, sharing a gritty and authentic coming-of-age story with audiences. With the support of Stan, Banijay Rights, Screenwest and Lotterywest, we are thrilled to empower the creative team in delivering their unapologetically true-to-life vision. Invisible Boys will undoubtedly resonate with audiences in Australia and worldwide, amplifying the voices that deserve to be heard and celebrating the authentic and dynamic spirit of Australian storytelling.”

“We want this series to resonate strongly with audiences in Australia and across the world,” said Chambers. “It has been great to have Stan, Banijay Rights and our financing partners supporting our creative vision for the Invisible Boys series.”

Verso commented: “It’s been such a dream creating this series for Stan, who has shown such a strong commitment to quality Australian and LGBTQIA+ storytelling. We’ve had a blast in the writers’ room, diving deeply into this world and expanding upon the characters and themes of the book with all its love, heartbreak, confusion, messiness and joy. I can’t wait to be back on set in Western Australia, bringing the story to life with the wonderful creative team.”