"Feel weird without Rudy": Outer Banks lead Chase Stokes opens up about filming Season 5

Outer Banks season 5 marks the final installment of the hit Netflix adventure teen drama. The show has been going on since 2020, impressing the audience with the tale of Kooks and Pogues who endeavor to find a legendary treasure.

Chase Stokes, who stars in the show as the lead John B. Routledge, has now opened up about filming the final season. This will be the first time the cast will be on the sets without Rudy Pankow, as his character JJ Maybank died in the emotional season 4 finale.

Chase and Rudy worked together on the series for four seasons, and hence, the former says it feels weird to film the show without his friend and colleague. At the same time, he expressed how it feels bittersweet to say goodbye to his character as Outer Banks ends with the fifth season.

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Chase Stokes talks about filming Outer Banks season 5 without Rudy Pankow

Outer Banks season 5 is expected to begin filming in the Spring of 2025. Chase Stokes talked about working on the show without Rudy Pankow for the first time since the show’s inception in an interview with ScreenRant.

The actor said it is difficult for him to see Rudy go, but his character’s death is important for the storyline:

“It does [feel weird without Rudy]. Yeah, it is. It's never an easy thing to see a character go, but that's part of filmmaking. You got to have those moments. You got to have those experiences that keep the audience on the edge of their seat.”

Chase called Rudy a good friend and an incredible artist and said he is excited about his future projects:

“I adore him, and he's been a dear friend for years. An incredible artist. An incredible, incredible artist. So I'm equally as sad to see him go, but I'm equally excited to see where his career goes next.”

In the same interview, Chase discussed how it is a bittersweet feeling to see Outer Banks ending as the show flourished his acting career. The actor said his character John B. Routledge has become an alternate personality for him after playing it for so many years.

Talking about how the ending would pan out, Chase said he hopes the writers come up with a satisfying conclusion for the story, as more often than not, audiences are left disappointed with how their favorite shows end.

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Why is Rudy Pankow not returning to Outer Banks?

Rudy Pankow is not a part of Outer Banks season 5 because JJ Maybank was killed off in the previous installment. In season 4, JJ finds out that Chandler Groff is his real father, and teams up with him to get the Blue Crown.

However, Groff betrays JJ several times. As JJ and Kiara try to escape with the treasure, Groff captures Kiara and demands the crown. JJ hands it over and says his friends are all he needs. But his father stabs him and leaves him to die in Kiara’s arms, making the end of his character after four seasons

The Pogues are now heartbroken and eager to seek revenge, which forms the premise of the final season. The release date for the fifth season has not been announced yet.

Outer Banks seasons 1 to 4 are available to stream on Netflix.