Last week, the actor shared on Instagram that filming has wrapped on the fifth and final season of Outer Banks. Now, in a new interview with People, Stokes is opening up about why the time feels right for the hit Netflix show to come to an end — and what he hopes comes next.
Stokes, who has played the fan-favorite Pogues leader since the series premiered in 2020, said he and his castmates were determined not to drag the story on for too long.
“We want the story to end on the right note,” he explained, joking that they didn’t want the show to stretch into later seasons where it completely lost its way. “We want to cut the cord before we lose the plot.”
The young adult adventure series follows a group of teens in North Carolina’s Outer Banks who stumble into dangerous treasure hunts that change their lives. Alongside Stokes, the show stars Madelyn Cline, Drew Starkey, Jonathan Daviss, Madison Bailey, and Carlacia Grant. According to Stokes, the cast has grown into a “true family” over the years.
“There’s just so much gratitude,” he said. “I was a kid with a dream and no real access to the industry. I’ve checked off boxes I thought would take my entire career to reach.”
As he looks ahead, Stokes is eager to reshape how audiences see him. He pointed to Robert Pattinson as inspiration, praising how Pattinson took creative risks after finishing Twilight and Harry Potter.
“That’s the blueprint for me,” Stokes said. “I want people to see that the floppy-haired beach boy from a Netflix YA show is now 33 years old. I just want to challenge myself.”
Fans are still reeling from the season four finale, which featured the shocking death of JJ, played by Rudy Pankow. Showrunner Jonas Pate previously revealed that JJ’s fate had been planned well in advance.
“It’s been kind of lurking in his DNA from the beginning,” Pate said, calling JJ a tragic figure and explaining that themes of mortality have always been central to the show.
As for the ending, Stokes teased that longtime viewers will see the story come full circle.
“It’s beautiful to know that it’s ending exactly how I was told when I started the show,” he said.
Season five of Outer Banks is expected to drop on Netflix next year, bringing the Pogues’ adventure to a carefully planned close.
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