Taskmaster star Mae Martin has a new Netflix thriller series on the way called Wayward that will show a "new side" to the star.
The upcoming show is set in a scenic town that has a darker underside, focusing on the "troubled teen industry" and generational struggle.
Originally titled Tall Pines, Wayward comes from Feel Good's Martin (who also stars) alongside fellow showrunner and executive producer Ryan Scott, who has previously written episodes of Fear the Walking Dead, Servant and Revenge.
Tudum teased that fans should be prepared to "see a whole new side" to Martin, the comedian further stating that they are "so excited to show everyone what we’ve been making".
"I hope this show ignites the rebellious teenagers that exist in all of us," Martin said. "And, most importantly, let’s acknowledge that my hair is now several shades darker than previously, indicating that I am now in fact a serious actor."
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When the series was announced in 2023, the star admitted that the story was one they have "been dying to tell for years", adding: "I’m beyond excited for people to see what we have in store! It’s going to be an insane roller coaster and so different to anything I’ve done before."
Wayward will consist of eight episodes, and marks one of the first major commissions for Netflix Canada.
Heartstopper director Euros Lyn will helm the series alongside Renuka Jeyapalan (Kim's Convenience) and John Fawcett (Orphan Black), with Lyn saying that working on the show was "a dream come true".
"I’m excited to bring this original blend of thriller, comedy, and horror to life, and to shed light on the troubled teen industry," he added.
Objective Fiction is one of the companies behind Wayward, having previously worked on Feel Good as well as The Gold and The Larkins, with CCO Ben Farrell credited as an executive producer. Canada's Sphere Media (Deepfake, Mea Culpa) is also on board, with the company's Jennifer Kawaja and Bruno Dubé executive producing too, while Hannah Mackay (Peep Show) is also an exec producer.
What is Wayward about?
Wayward is described as "a thriller set in a scenic town with a sinister side", and "explores the insidious underbelly of the 'troubled teen industry' and the eternal struggle between one generation and the next".
"Abby and Leila are your typical sixteen-year-old potheads," the synopsis reads. "When their exasperated parents run out of patience with them, they are sent to Tall Pines, a correctional school in rural Oregon run by an unregulated, murderous cult. Once there, they face an existential battle to retain their friendship, their sanity – and their lives.
"At the same time, Detective Dempsey (Martin), struggling with a troubled past of their own, moves to Tall Pines at the bequest of their wife, who grew up there and wishes to return home to raise their soon-to-be-born child.
"But when Dempsey discovers the truth about Tall Pines and their wife’s deeper connections to the evils the town protects, they must work with our two potheads turned heroes to take it down from the inside."
Who is in Wayward?
Alongside Martin, the show packs a stellar cast that includes:
• Toni Collette (Hereditary) as Leanne, the headmistress at Tall Pines
• Sarah Gadon (Ferrari) as Laura
• Sydney Topliffe (Murdoch Mysteries)
• Alyvia Alyn Lind (Chucky)
• Brandon Jay McLaren (The Rookie)
• Patrick J Adams (Suits)
• Joshua Close (Fargo)
• Patrick Gallagher (Big Sky)
• John Daniel (Overcompensating) as Rory
• Tricia Black (Suze) as Mule
• Isolde Ardies (Murdoch Mysteries) as Stacey
• Feaven Abera (The Handmaid's Tale) as Kendall
• Elizabeth Adams (The Price of Fitting In) as Ello
• Erik Junnola (It: Chapter Two) as Tanner
• Milton Torres Lara (Tales from the Void) as Daniel
• Michelle Nolden (The Time Traveler's Wife) as Young Evelyn's Mom
• Gage Munroe (Nobody) as Curtis
• Donald MacLean Jr (Nurses) as Kyle
• Devin Cecchetto (Ginny & Georgia) as Jess
• Geena Meszaros (The Order) as Oatmeal Beth
• Christina Orjalo (Schitt's Creek) as Ashley
• Sarah Deakins (Ginny & Georgia) as Laura's Mom
• Holly Jade Balmer (Cruel Intentions) as Follower
• Charlie Gibbard-McCall (Eli Roth's Haunted House: Trick VR Treat) as Marty
When will Wayward be released?
An official release date is yet to be announced, though Netflix has confirmed that the series will drop in 2025. Filming began last summer.
Does Wayward have a trailer?
A full trailer hasn't been released yet, though a sneak peek clip was shared earlier in the year. In it, we see Adams's character show a high school student a clip featuring Colette's Tall Pines head Leanne – though it all bears a sinister undertone. Watch below:
Wayward will stream on Netflix.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
