'Sweet Tooth': Netflix's magical vision of the future will melt your heart

Netflix is sending fans off to a magical new world in its new series, Sweet Tooth.

Based on the DC comic books by Jeff Lamire, Sweet Tooth transports viewers into a dystopian future, where a virus known as The Great Crumble has left humanity in disrepair.

At the same time the illness wreaks havoc on the world, ‘hybrid’ babies — born part-human, part-animal — emerge, and no one knows how or why.

Read More: Everything new on Netflix UK in June 2021

Believing they are somehow connected, or even to blame, hybrids become enemy number one to scared humans, and are forced into secrecy or risk being hunted.

Half-deer Gus (Christian Convery) and his father ‘Pubba’ (Will Forte) have managed to evade capture for ten years, living happily in isolation in the woods.

But one day they’re tracked down, and suddenly Gus has to go on a cross-country mission in order to find sanctuary.

Which is easier said than done, considering he was born with deer antlers, making him an obvious hybrid child.

Befriending a straggler named Jepperd (Nonso Anozie), the hopeful youngster sets off to find his own Brave New World and get answers.

However, after years of only knowing his father, Gus soon learns friends - and enemies - are found in the strangest of places.

The stunningly shot series transports the world into the heart of rural America, with the team deliberately creating a ‘hopeful’ version of a dystopian world.

Watch a trailer for Sweet Tooth

Downey Jr explained: “This is an expansive world and an epic story. Nowadays, you have to wow me. I have to feel like, ‘Wow, what is that? And where is that? And who are these people? And what's going on?’

“Then I always leave it to the boss [Susan] to make sure that the story rings true and the characters are great. This show has the big macro elements that get my attention, and you also really buy into these characters and root for them.”

“Gus was true north; the sense of hope that he gives to people and the optimism that he carries throughout the story,” added Susan.

“We have kids, and we love finding things to sit and watch with them, or things I can then recommend to my mom — entertainment that spans the whole age spectrum.

“The stakes in this story are real, and the world we’ve created is very inviting.”

What results is a magical world that will grip you in, with 11-year-old Convery - who trained in parkour for the role, leading an all-star cast like a seasoned pro.

While the show undoubtedly has darker themes, the overall tale is never anything but light-hearted wonderment - like you’re stepping into the comic book.

Despite acting heavyweights including Four Lions’ Adeel Akhtar, Once Upon A Time’s Dania Ramirez and Game Of Thrones’ Anozie, it’s Convery the show hinges on, and he is an utterly transfixing watch.

The Downeys have achieved their goal, and have brought to life a story that is perfect for adults and children alike.

Sweet Tooth is streaming on Netflix globally from 4 June.

Watch: Netflix could join the gaming race