Coming attractions: Netflix’s ‘Outer Banks’ captures the N.C. coast

Graphic courtesy of Netflix
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The North Carolina Outer Banks are suddenly in vogue again as a TV and movie setting. One of last year’s surprise movie hits was “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” a Twain-esque adventure-comedy created by Manteo native and co-director Tyler Nilson. While set along the N.C. outer banks, the film was actually filmed in and around the Savannah, Georgia, delta.

While the actual Outer Banks are largely closed to visitors during the COVID-19 crisis, the world of online streaming entertainment has found a virtual backdoor. This week, Netflix debuts a new series named, appropriately, “Outer Banks.” According to previews, the show follows a group of teenagers living in a fictional OBX town the summer following a devastating hurricane that has knocked out all electronic communication in and out of the island. Against the backdrop, the teens decide to hunt for a legendary treasure that may be linked to the mysterious disappearance of the father of the group’s leader, John B, played by Chase Stokes.

Like “Peanut Butter Falcon,” “Outer Banks” is set in North Carolina but was not filmed in the Tar Heel state. Instead, the series creators were forced south to the Charleston, S.C., area, where filming took place last summer. That was not the original desire of series creators Jonas and Josh Pate. The twin Pate brothers were born in Raeford before embarking on screenwriting careers in California. Jonas now lives in Wilmington, where he sought to shoot the series, originally titled “OBX.” However, Netflix balked at that in the wake of HB-142, the HB-2 repeal legislation that bars N.C. municipalities from enacting ordinances protecting trans (people’s) access to public accommodations. Although HB-142 is due to sunset on Dec. 1, 2020, Netflix would not budge on its stance in the meantime.

Jonas was recently appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Film, Television, and Digital Streaming. Josh graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, as did show co-creator and novelist Shannon Burke.

The 10-episode first season of “Outer Banks” debuts this Wednesday, April 15 on Netflix.