Netflix has just officially commissioned a prestige limited series from Peter Morgan, the creator of The Crown, titled The Boys From Brazil – one of the biggest historical-thriller announcements in the streamer’s current development slate. With an ensemble led by Jeremy Strong and production gearing up across multiple European countries, this new adaptation of Ira Levin’s novel is already generating serious industry attention. The project marks Morgan’s first return to large-canvas twentieth-century drama since The Crown, and the commissioning announcement alone positions it as a major creative partnership for Netflix.
Directed solely by Alex Gabassi, the series aims to blend psychological tension, historical trauma and political intrigue into an unsettling, character-driven thriller. The emotional stakes are high, the subject matter is weighty, and the creative pedigree is unmistakable. Here is everything to know about The Boys From Brazil before it arrives – from the plot and cast to themes, early buzz and release date.
The Boys From Brazil: All the key details (upcoming release)
- Title: The Boys From Brazil
- Original title: The Boys From Brazil
- Format: Limited Series
- Genre: Historical Thriller / Drama
- Country of production: United Kingdom, Germany, Bulgaria, Spain
- Original language: English
- Release date: To be announced
- Director / Creator / Showrunner: Peter Morgan
- Lead cast: Jeremy Strong, August Diehl, Daniel Brühl, Gillian Anderson, Shira Haas, Lizzy Caplan
- Platform: Netflix
- Produced by: World Productions, Orchid Pictures, Peter Morgan
What The Boys From Brazil is about
Set across several decades – from the aftermath of World War II through the 1970s – The Boys From Brazil follows Yakov Liebermann, a Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter whose life has been defined by one relentless pursuit: tracking down fugitives of the Third Reich and forcing them to face justice. His mission has cost him almost everything, but it becomes even more urgent when a young operative in Brazil uncovers signs of a chilling, long-term conspiracy.
The investigation points toward a sadistic Nazi scientist long believed to be dead, tying together rumors of genetic experimentation, political manipulation and a possible plan to seed the world with a new generation of fanatics. Morgan’s adaptation uses this thriller framework to explore how hatred mutates across generations, how trauma lingers in families and institutions, and what it means to keep fighting for justice when the past refuses to stay buried.
The Boys From Brazil cast and creative team
At the center of the series is Jeremy Strong as Yakov Liebermann, in his first major television role since Succession. Strong’s reputation for intense, psychologically layered performances makes him a compelling fit for a character whose life is shaped by grief, conviction and obsession.
He is joined by a formidable ensemble: August Diehl plays the Nazi scientist whose legacy drives the central conspiracy; Daniel Brühl appears as Von Harteneck; Gillian Anderson takes on the role of Frieda Steiner; Shira Haas plays Anna Koehler; and Lizzy Caplan portrays Hannah Liebermann. It is a cast calibrated for awards-season conversation and global reach.
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Behind the camera, Peter Morgan again builds a narrative around the forces that shape the twentieth century. He is joined by London-based production companies World Productions and Orchid Pictures, with long-time collaborator Suzanne Mackie executive producing for Orchid. Mackie underlines why Morgan’s return to this period feels significant: “Building on his extraordinary work with The Crown, Peter continues to examine the political and emotional forces which, through the 20th century, have molded the world we live in today. That he does so via the intimate human stories within the sweep of history makes his storytelling powerfully relatable.”
Early reactions and buzz
Because The Boys From Brazil is still in early production stages, there are no trailers or critic reviews yet. However, the combination of Peter Morgan, Jeremy Strong and an ensemble of internationally acclaimed actors has already put the show on industry watchlists.
Buzz is building thanks to its cast, premise and platform visibility. For viewers who followed The Crown or Succession, this announcement reads as a clear signal that Netflix is once again targeting ambitious, adult-oriented prestige drama built around big performances and serious themes.
Is The Boys From Brazil based on a true story or adaptation?
The Boys From Brazil is not based on a single true story. It is a bold reimagining of Ira Levin’s 1976 novel of the same name, which previously inspired the 1978 film version. Levin’s work is a speculative thriller, imagining how Nazi ideology could be revived years after the war through a shocking scientific and political scheme.
Morgan’s version leans into that speculative premise while emphasizing the human cost: the lives scarred by pursuit, the weight of memory and the question of how far one can go in the name of justice without becoming consumed by it.
Behind the scenes and production notes
Netflix has confirmed that The Boys From Brazil will film across several European territories, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Bulgaria and Spain. The locations mirror the story’s postwar and Cold War geography, from Central Europe to South America, and suggest a visually expansive production that moves between safe houses, government offices and shadowy meeting points.
The series will be solely directed by Alex Gabassi (The Crown, Black Doves), who also serves as executive producer. Gabassi joins executive producers Suzanne Mackie and Simon Heath (Line of Duty, Save Me) for World Productions, while Oona O’Beirn and Andy Stebbing, both alumni of The Crown, serve as producers.
Mackie highlights the strength of the talent assembled around the project: “We’re thrilled to have assembled such an exceptional team, both in front of and behind the camera, and to be working with the super-talented director Alex Gabassi again for this new limited series for Netflix. We can’t wait to bring Peter Morgan’s bold reimagining of Ira Levin’s The Boys from Brazil to the screen.”
It is a configuration that clearly signals Netflix’s intent to position the show as a high-end historical thriller with serious awards potential.
Why The Boys From Brazil is worth adding to your watchlist
For viewers who gravitate toward serious, adult-oriented drama, The Boys From Brazil checks every key box: a grounded historical setting, a morally complicated Nazi-hunting story, a cast stacked with acclaimed actors and a showrunner who has already proven he can turn twentieth-century history into must-watch television. If you enjoy The Crown, Hunters or The Man in the High Castle, this upcoming Netflix historical thriller should be on your radar.
The Boys From Brazil release date and platform
The Boys From Brazil will stream exclusively on Netflix, but its exact release date has not yet been announced. With production moving ahead in multiple European countries, the series is transitioning from development into full-scale shoot and post-production. Netflix is likely to position it as a high-profile historical thriller in a competitive release window.
