Boy Swallows Universe cast: Who stars in the Australian drama?

Based on the acclaimed and best-selling novel by Trent Dalton, Boy Swallows Universe is a new Australian Netflix Original series all about the coming-of-age of a young boy name Eli Bell growing up in the suburbs of 1980s Brisbane, Australia.

The series centers around the beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking journey of redemption and love that Eli embarks on after answering a mysterious red telephone. Set in Australia, Boy Swallows Universe features an entirely Australian cast, with actors like Travis Fimmel, Anthony Lapaglia, Phoebe Tonkin, and more. Get to know the cast and characters of the show below.

Travis Fimmel as Lyle Orlik

Vikings alum Travis Fimmel stars in Boy Swallows Universe as Lyle Orlik, the stepdad of Eli and Gus Bell. Lyle causes a lot of problems for the family because he's a drug dealer and that always comes with trouble.

As mentioned, Fimmel is best known for playing Ragnar Lothbrook on the hit History Channel series Vikings, which spawned a spinoff series, Vikings: Valhalla, now streaming on Netflix. He was also a lead in the Max series Raised by Wolves and will next star in upcoming prequel series Dune: The Sisterhood. Some of his other projects include Dreamland, Lean On Pete, Maggie's Plane, The Experiment, The Baytown Outlaws, and Black Snow.

Phoebe Tonkin as Frances "Frankie" Bell

Frankie Bell is the mother of Eli and Gus Bell. She's a recovering heroin addict, which makes her relationship with Lyle, who is a drug dealer, all the more challenging. She is doing her best to say sober and be a good mother to her boys.

Many fans know Phoebe Tonkin for her breakout roles on H20: Just Add Water and The CW shows The Secret Circle and The Originals, but more recently she's appeared in recurring roles on shows like The Affair and Westworld. In 2022, she also starred alongside Margot Robbie in Babylon. She also recently directed her own short film called Furlough. Next she'll star in the Australian boxing film Kid Snow and the indie crime drama And On The Eighth Day.

Sophie Wilde as Caitlyn Spies

Sophie Wilde is coming off of a very successful 2023 and it looks like that success will continue into 2024 with her first big project of the year playing journalist Caitlyn Spies, a love interest to older Eli.

In 2023, Wilde starred in the acclaimed and hugely successful horror film Talk To Me along with the Netflix series Everything Now. She also appeared in the BBC series You Don't Know Me, the Stan series Eden, and The Portable Door. She'll re-team with A24 again for the erotic thriller film Babygirl which also stars Nicole Kidman and Antonio Banderas.

Anthony Lapaglia as Tytus Broz

Tytus Broz is one of the most fascinating characters in the novel, a rather slippery and deceptive man who runs the prosthetics factory where Lyle works. He's often called the "lord of the limbs" because of his background and he's not well-liked by Eli or Gus.

Of course, actor Anthony Lapaglia is an acclaimed performer who has been in over 100 different projects throughout the years, including the recent Netflix series Florida Man. He's an Emmy-winning actor often recognized most for playing Jack Malone on Without a Trace and projects like Annabelle: Creation, A Month of Sundays, The Code, and The Eichmann Show.

Simon Baker as Robert Bell

Perhaps one of the most complicated characters in the novel is Robert Bell, the biological father of Eli Bell.

Regarding his character, Simon Baker says “You've got to do the work and find the character in your bones, and I came to think of Robert as an extremely sensitive human being, but essentially too sensitive for the time. He is an internalized character, who disappears into himself, into books, and into alcohol. And that creates an obvious insular, internal world that is filled with regret, heartbreak."

Actor Simon Baker is famous for playing Patrick Jane on The Mentalist across all seven seasons, a role that earned him multiple accolades, including Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Other credits of his include The Devil Wears Prada, Margin Call, and L.A. Confidential. He's also dabbled in directing, making his feature directorial debut with the 2017 film Breath.

Bryan Brown as Slim Halliday

Slim Halliday is another colorful addition to the world of Boy Swallows Universe. A convicted murderer who hasn't even been out of jail for that long, he's hired on as the babysitter for Eli and Gus. He's hilarious and often imparts his wisdom on the boys, for better or worse.

Star Bryan Brown has been in the industry for over 50 years now and starred in over 100 movie and TV shows in that time. His credits include, Breaker Morant, A Town Like Alice, Cocktail, Along Came Polly, Australia, and The Light Between Oceans.

The young actors playing Eli and Gus Bell

In addition to some of the big-name actors on Boy Swallows Universe, the show also introduces a few stars, including Felix Cameron, Lee Tier Hailey, and Zac Burgess.

Cameron was cast in the pivotal role of the young Eli Bell, a boy who grew up in the working-class suburbs of Brisbane and often felt like the most mature one in the house, while Zac Burgess portrays the older Eli. Gus Bell, Eli's selectively mute brother, is played by Hailey.