The popular novel The God of the Woods is becoming a Netflix series, and the streaming service has found its lead star. Maya Hawke, known for her role as Robin in Stranger Things, has joined the cast. The series is based on Liz Moore’s bestselling 2024 mystery novel, and production is expected to start later this year.
What ‘The God of the Woods’ Is About
The show is a multi-generational drama set in the Adirondack Mountains. The story centers on the wealthy Van Laar family and the mysterious disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar from her family’s summer camp in 1975. This event happens after an earlier family tragedy, and the two incidents may be connected. As investigators dig into the past, the family’s wealth and influence start to fall apart, revealing dark secrets about privilege and the abuse of power.
The book gained attention even before the Netflix announcement. Former President Barack Obama picked it as one of his favorite books of the year. Singer Taylor Swift was also seen listening to the audiobook version in her End of an Era docuseries on Disney+.
Maya Hawke’s Role in the Series
Hawke will play Judy Luptack, a character described as smart and quietly determined. Judy is the first female investigator in the male-dominated Bureau of Criminal Investigation. She gets assigned to solve the disappearance of the young girl from the summer camp in upstate New York. This role is a big shift from her Stranger Things character, offering a more serious, dramatic part similar to a classic crime thriller investigator.
This casting keeps Hawke connected to Netflix after Stranger Things ended in late 2025. Her other credits include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Asteroid City, and voicing Anxiety in Inside Out 2. She will also appear in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, set for release in November 2026.
Creative Team and Production Details
The series is being led by a strong creative team. Author Liz Moore and writer Liz Hannah (who worked on Mindhunter and The Post) are serving as co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers. In a statement, they shared their excitement about working on the project.
“We love making TV and can’t wait to bring The God of the Woods to life with our partners at Sony and Netflix. We hope everyone falls in love (and hate) with these characters as much as we have.” – Liz Moore and Liz Hannah
Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty are executive producers for Original Film, the company behind The Boys and Gen V. Sony Pictures Television is the studio producing the series. This team previously worked with Moore on the adaptation of her novel Long Bright River, which starred Amanda Seyfried.
Also Read:
Production Schedule and Release Timeline
According to Production Weekly, filming for The God of the Woods is scheduled to begin in June 2026. The production is expected to last several months, wrapping up in December 2026. Based on this timeline, the series is expected to be released on Netflix in 2027.
An exact release date has not been announced yet. No other cast members have been confirmed for the series at this time.
For more updates on new series and casting news, keep reading VvipTimes for the latest announcements from the entertainment world.
