Netflix hit Adolescence 'spin-off' announced helmed by Louis Theroux

Louis Theroux is to helm a documentary that will be a 'spin-off' to hit Netflix series Adolescence. The acclaimed drama, which followed teenager Jamie (Owen Cooper) after he is arrested for the murder of one of his female classmates, received critical acclaim when it premiered earlier this year and now esteemed filmmaker Louis, 55, is said to be working on a project that explores the same issues that played out in the thriller.

A source told The Sun : "It makes sense to produce a documentary looking at this deeply uncomfortable area, particularly in the wake of the drama which stunned the nation."

According to the outlet, the documentary will come through the TV star's production company Mindhouse, and while it is not expected to be released until next year, insiders are thrilled that the famed documentary maker is at the centre of it all. The source added: "Having someone of Louis’ calibre spearheading it adds to the heft and will keep the subject matter at the forefront of people’s minds.”

It is thought that the new documentary will examine the global presence of Andrew Tate, an influencer who has become infamous for his misogynistic views, whilst UK vlogger HSTikkyTokky, who was banned from TikTok last year after it was deemed that he had been exhibiting 'hateful behaviour' towards women, will sit down for an on-camera interview with Louis as well.

Veteran documentarian Louis is famed for his particular brand of quiet and quizzical looks as interviewees speak themselves into a corner. He’s covered everything from Joe Exotic to interviews with Rita Ora. He has become a regular face on the BBC with his Louis Theroux Interviews series, but earlier this year, it was reported that he had left the broadcaster.

A source told The Sun : "Louis is very much seen as a BBC star, having launched his career there in 1998 when he was an unknown. And his two interview series in 2022 and 2023 were very much seen by execs as him doing what he does best." The source then concluded: "But now it seems he won't be going back to the format, potentially for years."

Mindhouse has released several projects through the BBC. They include the three-part docuseries Boybands Forever, which launched last year. Louis was credited as an executive producer on the series, which featured interviews with the likes of Simon Cowell and Take That 's Robbie Williams.

Over the five years since it launched, Mindhouse has worked with other broadcasters too, including having released a few projects through Sky. Their most recent collaboration, Dart Kings, was released through Sky Documentaries last week. The production company has also worked with Channel 4, Netflix and Prime Video, among other platforms, previously.

Meanwhile, Adolescence, was a ratings hit when it launched in March this year and was seen by more than 30 million viewers worldwide. It was created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and tackled the radicalisation of young boys by misogynist online communities such as the Manosphere in conjunction with the rise of knife crime.

“We’d been asked to create a one-shot piece which was going to be a series,” Graham explained. “So we were coming up with the possibilities of what we’d make it about.

“And I’d read an article in the paper about a young boy stabbing a young girl, and it made me feel a bit cold.

“Then, about three or four months later there was a piece on the news. And it was a young boy, again, who had stabbed a young girl - and they are young boys. They’re not men. And it was the complete opposite end of the country.”

Knife crime has been steadily on the rise in the UK despite a decrease in homicides overall. Teenagers are over twice as likely to be fatally stabbed than they were 10 years ago, according to 2024 figures from the Office for National Statistics.

“So, if I’m really honest, it really hurt my heart,” the actor admitted. “For many different reasons.

“Predominantly as a father but also, kind of, where we’re at in society for this to happen.

“Me and Phil [Barantini, director) were in the car and I just came up with the possibility of an idea.”