Netflix is adding another high-profile drama to its growing list of original series. The streaming service is developing All Boys, a new show from Alena Smith, the creative mind behind the Apple TV+ series Dickinson. This project brings together Smith with producer Shawn Levy, known for his work on Stranger Things, through his company 21 Laps Entertainment.
What We Know About the All Boys Plot
The story takes place at an all-boys boarding school in New England. The main character is a teacher who once attended the same school as a student. Now in his middle age with a family of his own, he faces personal challenges while trying to guide a new group of young men preparing for their futures.
Smith is creating the series and will also write the episodes. The show marks her first major project since finishing Dickinson, which ran for three seasons on Apple TV+ from 2019 to 2021.
Alena Smith’s Track Record With Character-Driven Stories
Smith built her reputation as a writer on The Newsroom during its third season at HBO. She also worked as a writer and co-producer on The Affair for Showtime. Her background in theater includes plays like Icebergs, The Bad Guys, and The New Sincerity. The play The Bad Guys became a film in 2018 with Glen Powell in a leading role.
Her work on Dickinson earned a Peabody Award in 2019 for the first season. The show starred Hailee Steinfeld as poet Emily Dickinson and became one of Apple TV+’s early flagship programs. Smith directed the series finale and served as showrunner throughout its run.
In a Harper’s Bazaar interview, Smith shared her connection to Dickinson:
“I wrote poetry in high school, and I read Emily Dickinson’s poems then. When I was in my early 20s, I read her biography by Alfred Habegger and felt personally connected to her story, the paradoxes, ironies, and frustrations of her story, particularly her younger years when she was longing to be a writer in a world that wasn’t willing to see her that way.”
The Team Behind All Boys at Netflix
Shawn Levy and his company 21 Laps Entertainment will produce All Boys as part of their overall deal with Netflix. Levy has produced several successful Netflix projects, including Stranger Things and The Adam Project. This partnership brings together a creator known for literary adaptations with a producer experienced in making shows that connect with wide audiences.
Variety first reported the development news on March 24, 2026, citing exclusive sources familiar with the project. Netflix has not yet announced casting details or a potential release timeline.
What This Means for Netflix’s Original Drama Lineup
Netflix continues to invest in original series from established creators. Smith’s work on Dickinson showed her ability to blend period settings with modern storytelling approaches. The boarding school setting for All Boys offers a familiar backdrop, but the focus on a middle-aged teacher dealing with his own life while shaping young men suggests a more character-focused drama rather than typical teen content.
Smith also has several other projects in the works. She is developing an Audrey Hepburn biopic starring Lily Collins for Imagine Entertainment and Case Study Films. She also serves as executive producer on the FX limited series Cry Wolf, which stars Olivia Colman and Brie Larson.
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When Will All Boys Release on Netflix
As of March 2026, All Boys remains in development. No production schedule or release date has been announced. The show does not have a cast attached yet. Netflix typically takes 12 to 18 months from development to release for drama series, but timelines vary depending on production needs and scheduling.
For viewers who enjoyed Dickinson‘s mix of historical context with modern emotional depth, All Boys represents a new direction while keeping Smith’s focus on character complexity.
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