How Holden Sheppard Found Actor Joseph Zada

A Unique Encounter That Changed Everything

Australian author Holden Sheppard has shared a fascinating story about how he knew the actor cast in his Invisible Boys TV series was destined for Hollywood, even before the world caught on. The 38-year-old writer, whose 2019 coming-of-age novel Invisible Boys was recently adapted into a hit Australian miniseries, revealed to a publication that he instantly recognized Joseph Zada as the perfect fit for the role of Charlie.

"It's really funny—I wasn't meant to meet Joseph Zada that day. I was going to meet the producer for coffee. I was in my hometown and there was this blue-haired boy in the bakery... I looked and went, 'That has to be the actor who is playing Charlie,'" Holden said.

This encounter was an instant recognition moment, one that felt almost cinematic. "I walked up to him and said, 'Excuse me, I think you may be one of the boys on my TV show!' He then goes, 'Are you Holden?' It was really cool to see him; he brought the show to life. So proud that he has gone and cracked the US," he added.

A Major Hollywood Breakthrough

Joseph Zada, who is 21 years old, landed a major Hollywood breakthrough last April when he was cast in the upcoming The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping. The film is set almost 30 years before the original movie and features Zada playing the younger version of Woody Harrelson’s character.

This role came after he reportedly beat out hundreds of other actors auditioning for the part. For Holden, seeing the final cast of Invisible Boys come together was a surreal experience, especially with established Australian names attached.

A Starstruck Moment

The Western Australian-born writer expressed his excitement at seeing veteran actors David Lyons and Pia Miranda join the project. "Pia Miranda! Oh my God, my mother is Italian and her movie Looking for Alibrandi was such a touchstone for us. Having Pia cast in this was just so cool," he said.

Holden has already expanded the Invisible Boys universe by writing a newly released sequel titled Yeah the Boys, which continues the story several years later. He described it as a darker, more adult evolution of the original story.

"Yeah the Boys is the rebellious older brother of Invisible Boys. It is firmly adult territory now; we meet the boys several years later. They are all struggling in different ways," he revealed.

He also mentioned that he couldn’t wait for his second novel to be adapted for the screen, adding that it would stand as its own story rather than a direct sequel series.

Relevance in a Changing World

In February last year, Holden shared why he believes the series based on his bestselling novel is more relevant than ever. "The show is dropping in a more hostile environment than the book did. The book came out in 2019 and there was this sense that same-sex marriage had just been legalised in Australia," he told a publication.

"People were like, maybe we don't need stories like this anymore. But 2025 turns out to be needing this story more than we did six years ago... I am glad," he said.

"It's like a little beacon of hope right now. Let's show four young gay men being defiant, being bold, proud and just giving the middle finger to the world."

Holden's book draws on his own experiences as a young gay teenager growing up in the regional Western Australian town of Geraldton. He worked hard to ensure the series authentically portrayed genuine gay relationships.