Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline in Outer Banks season 3.Photo:Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Get ready for more treasure hunts and drama,Outer Banksfans, becauseChase Stokesteasesthe upcoming fourth seasonis going above and beyond.
While promoting the launch ofZenni Optical’sEyeQLenz— an all-in-one solution offering protection against harmful infrared exposure, UV and blue light seamlessly shifting between indoors and outdoors — the actor and retailer’s new brand ambassador spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about the upcoming season of his hit Netflix series.
After recently spending six weeks overseas filming, Stokes, 31, teases that the cast has been in “the thick of it” getting the new episodes together, noting that the upcoming season is “one of [his] favorite seasons yet."
Chase Stokes wearing EyeQLenz sunglasses.Zenni Optical
Zenni Optical
“The writers talked about how there was a real want for a lot of the authenticity and the characters in season 1. So I will say that they do a good job this season of that,” he says. Of course, beingOuter Banks, he adds that there will be plenty of treasure hunts and “YA drama” along the way.
As for the shocking deaths of both John B (Stokes) and Sarah Cameron’s (Madelyn Cline) fathers at the end of season 3, the actor teases thatthe onscreen couplewill continue to deal with the ramifications of those traumatic events.
“Anytime you experience loss, it hits in spaces and in places that you don’t anticipate,” he says. “Being in the situation that John B and Sarah are in, it really will force them to evaluate everything. Where they are, what their purpose is, what their intentions are, and what was the actual value of it? Was it worth it, in hindsight? If they could go back and change things, would they? Or do they feel okay with it?”
The cast of Outer Banks in season 3.Netflix
Netflix
Stokes adds that the Pogues will be dealing with self-doubt after the many obstacles they’ve faced. “It’s been a huge, huge shift in lifestyle in a very, very short period of time if you look at the actual timeline of the show,” he notes. “And I think when you go through that level of trauma, for sure, it’ll make you start asking those deeper questions.”
Meanwhile, Stokes has experienced some big life changes of his own since stepping into the role of John B. When asked what’s the biggest lesson he’s learned in the spotlight, Stokes notes that it’s really made him appreciate his close family and friends and the value of privacy.
“It’s really made me appreciate the smaller things because you don’t really realize what you have until it’s gone,” he adds. “Things like privacy or friendships or the way that people look at you. I have a lot of friends from times past who don’t look at me as Chase anymore. They look at me as John B. So I’ve really clung to close friends in the show and family members and my relationship and people who view me in that way. A lot of positives. And sometimes with positives come negatives.”
As Stokes and hisOuter Bankscostars have branched out with other roles in recent years, including Cline, 26, inGlass Onion: A Knives Out MysteryandDrew Starkeyin the upcomingLuca GuadagninofilmQueerwithDaniel Craig, Stokes notes that the entire cast has been super “supportive” of “each other’s individual careers.”
Drew Starkey and Chase Stokes at a basketball game.Paras Griffin/Getty
Paras Griffin/Getty
In fact, he reveals he and Starkey,who plays Rafe on the series, grew up auditioning against each other for roles. “There would be times where we would see each other beforeOuter Banksand I’d like, ‘Oh, that’s the dude that got that role over me.’ Or he would see me in a room and he’d be like, ‘Oh dang, he booked that role that I really like,’” he explained. “So Drew and I have a very, very particularly strong bond in that space to where I’m super proud of him and just this role [inQueer]. He’s so insanely talented.”
As for when fans can expectnew episodes ofOuter Banks, Stokes teases that while the cast is “getting close” to the “finish line,” even he doesn’t know the official release date.
“They won’t tell us anything,” he says, referring to Netflix. “God’s honest truth. They’re like, ‘You guys might tell the world, so we’re going to keep to ourselves.’”
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The first three seasons ofOuter Banksare now streaming on Netflix.
source: people.com
