Every parent’s nightmare played in front of viewers when Netflix released the crime drama Adolescence on March 13, 2025. The limited series followed the case of a young teenage boy who was accused of stabbing his classmate to death, but the nightmare storyline had audiences wondering: Is Adolescence based on a true story?
In Touch reveals the inspiration behind the thought-provoking and chilling series, executive produced by Brad Pitt.
What Is the Netflix Series ‘Adolescence’ About?
Adolescence takes place in West Yorkshire, England, and follows the family of Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who was accused of stabbing his older schoolmate, Katie (Emilia Holiday) to death.
Not only did the show’s one-shot production captivate fans, but the storyline allowed viewers to make their own portrayal of the series.
Within the first five minutes of episode 1, the National Crime Residency forcefully enters the Miller residence around 6 a.m. Jamie’s mom, Manda Miller (Christine Tremarco) was the first of the family to be introduced to fans as she was startled in her bathrobe while in the living room of the home. Family patriarch Eddie Miller (cocreator Stephen Graham) held up his hands while on the stairwell, while his daughter, Lisa Miller (Amélie Pease) was forced out of the bathroom and onto the ground. Finally, the camera found Jamie still in his bed, who wet himself as a result of his complete shock at the NCR’s arrival.
Jamie was arrested on-site on suspicion of the murder of his schoolmate Katie, who was found dead hours prior to his arrest.
Without spoiling too much, investigators thought Jamie and Katie were friends because she previously commented on his Instagram posts. However, they realized her public messages weren’t friendly, and learned that she was bullying Jamie by commenting red pill emojis under his post. Red pill emojis have turned into a symbol of the slang term incel, short for involuntary celibate, which the Anti-Defamation League defines as “heterosexual men who blame women and society for their lack of romantic success.”
During Jamie’s initial interrogation with his dad by his side, the young boy proclaimed his innocence, repeating that he didn’t do anything wrong. However, investigators revealed still images of CCTV footage showing Jamie following Katie around town late at night. Then, they shared muted surveillance footage of the pair in an argument in a parking lot, where Katie shoved Jamie to the ground and continued to walk away. Once Jamie stood up, he attacked her and continually punched her as she lay defenseless on the ground, although it was unclear in the scene if he was stabbing her with the knife murder weapon.
Throughout the episodes, it shows the POV of Jamie, his family and the peers of their school, who were aware of the bullying antics.
Is the Netflix Series ‘Adolescence’ Based on a True Story?
Although Adolescence isn’t based on one particular true crime story, the storyline was inspired by the heightened number of youth knife crimes linked to manosphere and modern masculinity.
Stephen not only played a compelling father in the series, but also served as the cocreator and cowriter along with Jack Thorne.
“There was an incident where a young boy [allegedly] stabbed a girl,” Graham told Netflix’s Tudum, the streaming platform’s official site made for and dedicated to fans, in March 2025 following the premiere. “It shocked me. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What’s the inciting incident here?’ And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, ‘Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this?’”
How Was Brad Pitt Involved In ‘Adolescence’?
Brad served as an executive producer in the series and his production company, Plan B Entertainment, spearheaded the project. However, the Oscar winner’s efforts stayed strictly behind the scenes.
“Brad was on the phone with us, and he was so enthusiastic,” Adolescence director Philip Barantini previously told Radio Times. “He really understood the vision and wanted to make sure we got it right.”
