The cast for Netflix‘s upcoming drama series The God of the Woods keeps getting bigger. The streaming service announced five new series regulars on May 28, 2026. The big news for genre fans is Nell Fisher, who just played Holly Wheeler in the final season of Stranger Things, has signed on for a major role.
Fisher will play Barbara Van Laar, the 13-year-old girl whose disappearance is the main mystery of the show. She will star alongside Benjamin Walker, known for his work in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, who will play her on-screen father, Peter Van Laar III.
The God of the Woods Brings a Popular Mystery Book to Life
The God of the Woods is based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Liz Moore. The story takes place at a summer camp in the Adirondacks during the summer of 1975. The plot kicks off when a teenager named Barbara Van Laar goes missing from her bunk. The situation becomes more tense because another child from the wealthy Van Laar family also vanished years earlier.
The official description says the show is a multi-generational drama. It explores the family’s dark secrets and class tensions. As the past and present mix together, the power and money of the Van Laar family start to fall apart. The story looks at how privilege can cause serious damage.
Nell Fisher‘s character is described as an artistic and strong-willed teen with a punk attitude. She joins Camp Emerson to get away from her difficult family but finds friends among the other campers and counselors. The character is young but has the maturity of someone who had to make big decisions too early in life.
Who Is Playing Who in the New Netflix Series
Netflix released the full character list along with the casting news. Benjamin Walker takes on the role of Peter Van Laar III. His character is described as imposing, entitled, and without humor. As the rich heir to the family estate, his behavior causes problems for his wife Alice and his 13-year-old daughter.
Damon Gupton (Bates Motel) will play Denny Hayes. He is a captain in the Bureau of Criminal Investigations who struggles to balance his quiet life with his new work partner.
Susannah Perkins (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) joins as TJ Hewitt. TJ is the quiet but strong director of Camp Emerson who acts fast when a camper goes missing.
Autumn Molina rounds out the new additions as Tracy Jewell. She is a determined young camper who makes it her mission to find her missing bunkmate, even if it puts her own safety at risk.
These five actors join the previously announced main cast. Maya Hawke (Stranger Things), Kerry Condon (F1), and Ella Rubin (The Idea of You) are already set to star in the series.
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What to Expect From the Netflix Drama
Liz Hannah (The Post, Mindhunter) and author Liz Moore are working as co-showrunners and executive producers. Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty from Original Film are also producing. Sony Pictures Television is the studio behind the project.
The original novel won the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Mystery & Thriller. It was also featured on NPR’s “Books We Love” list. The story has many references to the Capital Region of New York, where the book is set.
Nell Fisher is coming off a very busy year. She played Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things Season 5. Her character went from a background role to a hero who helped defeat Vecna in the series finale. Before that, she appeared in the horror movie Evil Dead Rise.
Fans of the book have been waiting for this adaptation since the novel came out in 2024. The show does not have a release date yet. Production is currently in progress, with casting calls already held in Orange and Dutchess Counties in New York.
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