Is Adolescence a true story? Inspiration behind gripping Netflix drama

The four-part drama tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murder.

Adolescence is set to launch on Netflix this Thursday 13th March. Starring Stephen Graham and Ashley Walters, the four-part drama follows the unflinching story of a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller, who is accused of murdering a girl at his school.

Jamie, played by Owen Cooper, is arrested and taken into questioning following the death of his classmate, leading his father Eddie Miller (Stephen Graham) to search for answers about the tragic incident: who is responsible? Could this have been prevented? And why did it happen in the first place?

The show has a unique filming style with every episode filmed in one continuous shot. The story therefore unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers following the shocking tragedy.

Is Adolescence a true story?

Not exactly. Adolescence isn’t based on one specific true story, however, it is based on real events in the UK.

The producers wanted to put out a call for action following the rise of knife crime in recent years.

Speaking to Netflix about the new show, Stephen Graham said: “One of our aims was to ask, ‘What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and from social media? And the pressures that come from all of those things are as difficult for kids here as they are the world over.'”

Netflix

On the storyline specifically, he added: “We could have made a drama about gangs and knife crime, or about a kid whose mother is an alcoholic or whose father is a violent abuser, instead, we wanted you to look at this family and think, ‘My God. This could be happening to us!’ And what’s happening here is an ordinary family’s worst nightmare.”

Netflix

The idea for the film came about “over 10 years ago” according to Graham.

While speaking at Next on Netflix earlier this year, he explained: “We’ve seen an epidemic of knife crime amongst young lads, up and down the country. And for me, there were certain instances that really stuck out where young boys – and they are young boys, you know, they’re not men – were killing young girls.

“When I mentioned it to Phil [Barantini, director], it just really hit me hard. I just thought, ‘Why? What’s going on? What’s happening? Why is this the case?'”