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It’s no secret Outer Banks is one of Netflix’s most successful original series. The show took the world by storm, and we’ve all fallen in love with our favorite group of Pogues.
The Netflix series is set in the coastal town along the Outer Banks of North Carolina (though the show is filmed in South Carolina!). There’s a stark social divide between the wealthy seasonal residents, or the “Kooks,” and working-class locals known as the “Pogues.” The show follows John B and his friends as they try to find out what happened to his missing father and discover a legendary treasure along the way.
Josh and Jonas Pate (who are twin brothers), as well as Shannon Burke, created the Netflix hit. OBX season 3 filming has been going on since February 2022. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been very long, so it will still be a while before we see the third season on our screens.
In the meantime while we wait, we’ve rounded up 10 facts you may not know about the series. Let’s see how well you know Outer Banks!
1. Chase Stokes wasn’t going to audition for Outer Banks
Can you imagine a world in which Chase Stokes wasn’t our beloved John B? Well, it almost happened. Stokes originally passed on the show because when it was pitched to him, it sounded too similar to The Goonies. He didn’t want to be a part of something that could potentially ruin “a cult-classic film.”
But thankfully, he read the script and realized the two weren’t the same at all. In fact, he actually read for the role of Topper (ugh, no). Glad that didn’t happen!
2. Rudy Pankow was almost going to play John B
While Stokes could have played Topper, Rudy Pankow was almost going to take on the role of John B. The actor wanted to play JJ from the start, but producers wanted him for John B at first. He thought he was going to play that role up until he flew to Charleston, South Carolina after his last audition. They could have communicated it that better to the poor guy!
3. John B and Sarah’s rain kiss wasn’t planned
In season 1’s fourth episode, John B and Sarah go on a trip to learn more about the origin of the gold and where it might be hidden. The two grow closer and finally see each the people past “Kook” and “Pogue.” The two share their first kiss, and it’s one for the romance novels. You know, the kiss in the rain magic moment? Well, it really was nature’s magic that made it happen because the writers didn’t originally have it as a kiss in the rain moment. It just happened to start pouring and they decided to go in that direction. Thankfully they did!
4. The cast went through a lot of water training
In the first season, there’s a scene where the Pogues go out find out whose sunken boat has found its way down the water. John B, JJ, Pope, and Kiara are all there. The cast had to become pros at all sorts of water activities, including boating, diving, swimming, and surfing training before they began filming the series. When the police arrive in the scene, John B is underwater pretty deep, but in reality, Stokes was only a foot below the surface.
5. The cast has “a lot of freedom” to improvise their lines
Most shows don’t like improvisations. Sometimes they’ll give their actors a little bit of freedom, but usually the cast needs to stick to the script. For OBX, things work different. The actors have “a lot of freedom” when filming scenes and there’s a lot of improv. That’s probably why scenes and the dialogue feel so natural. One example of this is when JJ is talking to Pope and Kie about his dad in the episode where he uses all the money he gets on material things like a hot tub. It’s one of the most heartbreaking moments and some of JJ’s speech is thanks to the talented Pankow.
6. Some of the cast lived and quarantined together
John B and JJ are best buds. Have been since they were kids. Stokes and Pankow really wanted that friendship to be translated on screen, so they decided to live together while filming. It definitely paid off because you can feel that closeness.
During the pandemic, a group of the cast including Stokes, Pankow, Madelyn Cline, and Drew Starkey (who is much more lovely than his character Rafe Cameron) all quarantined together for about a month and a half. This cast is definitely close, and it’s easy to tell!
7. Chase and Madelyn were both on Stranger Things
Stokes and Cline both made minor appearances on another major Netflix series, Stranger Things. In a very quick shot in season 1 episode 6, Stokes’ character is seen driving away from Jonathan Byers after shouting a suggestive comment about Nancy.
Cline is more recognizable when you see her in Stranger Things season 2. She appeared as popular girl Tina in two episodes, most noticeably in the second season’s very first episode.
8. Chase and Madelyn dated in real life
In June 2020, OBX fans rejoiced when they found out the actors who play one of the best ships on television was dating in real life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be and the couple split in October 2021.
They did have a cute first meeting, though. After Stokes finished reading for his part, he went out and randomly asked Cline to walk on his back because he had been on a long flight. At that time he didn’t know she would be playing his love interest!
9. Outer Banks lawsuit
In December 2020, a North Carolina high school English teacher and author named Kevin Wooten filed a lawsuit against Netflix and the creators of Outer Banks. He claimed that they stole the plot of his novel. But in May 2021, the lawsuit was dismissed when a federal judge determined the teacher and author failed to show any substantial similarities between the two works.
10. Charles Esten is also a musician
The lovely actor who plays the one we love to hate, Ward Cameron, is also talented in music. On July 25, 2018, Esten was awarded the Guinness World Records title of “the most consecutive weeks to release an original digital single by a music act.” He was presented with the certificate after the performance of his single, Halfway Home on NBC’s Today show.
Did you know these Outer Banks facts? Stay tuned for more OBX news and updates!