Netflix is bringing Liz Moore’s bestselling mystery novel The God of the Woods to the screen. The streaming giant has added Oscar-nominated actress Kerry Condon to star alongside Stranger Things fan favorite Maya Hawke in the upcoming drama series.
The series marks a major addition to Netflix’s growing collection of literary adaptations. Condon, known for her BAFTA-winning performance in The Banshees of Inisherin, will play a mother searching for her missing daughter. Hawke, who played Robin in Stranger Things, takes on the role of a determined investigator.
Kerry Condon Joins as Grieving Mother Alice Van Laar
Kerry Condon has signed on to play Alice Van Laar, a woman dealing with immense pain. Her character faces every parent’s worst fear when her 13-year-old daughter Barbara disappears from a family summer camp.
Netflix’s official character description states: “Hardened by the grief of a past family tragedy and trapped in a contemptuous marriage, Alice is forced to face the unimaginable when her 13-year-old daughter goes missing.”
Condon brings serious acting credentials to the role. She won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Banshees of Inisherin. The Irish actress also received an Academy Award nomination for the same performance. More recently, she appeared in the racing film F1 and the indie feature Train Dreams, both of which earned Best Picture Oscar nominations.
Her television work includes playing Stacey Ehrmantraut on Better Call Saul. She also voiced the AI assistant F.R.I.D.A.Y. in Marvel’s Avengers movies.
Maya Hawke Takes on First Major Post-Stranger Things Role
Maya Hawke will play Judy Luptack, a smart and quietly determined investigator. Her character works as the first female officer in the male-dominated Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The role gives Hawke her first major television project since Stranger Things ended its run in late 2025. She joined the Netflix hit in its third season as Robin, a character who quickly became a fan favorite.
Beyond Stranger Things, Hawke has built an impressive resume. She appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, and voiced a character in Inside Out 2. She also starred in the limited series The Good Lord Bird alongside her father, actor Ethan Hawke.
What The God of the Woods Is About
The series is set in the Adirondack Mountains and follows the wealthy Van Laar family. The story centers on the disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar from her family’s summer camp in August 1975.
This missing person case connects to an earlier family tragedy that happened 14 years before. Barbara’s older brother also vanished without a trace. The two disappearances may be linked.
As the investigation moves forward, the Van Laar family’s wealth and power begin to fall apart. The show explores class tensions between the rich family and the working-class town nearby. It also looks at how privilege and influence affect who gets attention and who gets ignored.
The story comes from Liz Moore’s 2024 novel, which won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller. Former President Barack Obama also included the book on his summer reading list.
Who Is Making the Series
Liz Hannah and Liz Moore serve as co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Hannah worked on Mindhunter and The Post. Moore also wrote Long Bright River, which got adapted into a Peacock series starring Amanda Seyfried.
“We love making TV and can’t wait to bring The God of the Woods to life with our partners at Sony and Netflix,” Moore and Hannah told Netflix. “We hope everyone falls in love (and hate) with these characters as much as we have.”
Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty also executive produce through their company Original Film. Moritz has produced major franchises like The Boys and Fast & Furious. Sony Pictures Television handles production duties.
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Production Timeline and Release Information
The series will run for 8 episodes. Production is scheduled to begin in 2026, though Netflix has not announced a specific release date yet.
The project originally spent two years in development at HBO before the network dropped it in 2023. Netflix quickly picked up the rights and moved forward with production.
This adaptation continues Netflix’s push into mystery dramas. The streamer has found success with similar shows like The Watcher and You. With two award-winning actresses leading the cast, the series aims to compete with critically acclaimed limited series like Mare of Easttown.
Condon has upcoming projects as well. She will appear alongside Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott in Pressure, a film set for release on May 29.
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