Welcome to Tall Pines. Netflix's new limited series, Wayward, has dropped right in time for spooky season, and it's an old-fashioned thriller in the vein of classics like Twin Peaks and the first season of Riverdale — a “small town with a secret” story, if you will.
Wayward was created by comedian, actor, and screenwriter Mae Martin, who also stars in the show as Officer Alex Dempsey. Martin was inspired by “troubled teen” schools, and spun one of their friend's experiences at one such institute into Wayward.
"I often talk around adolescence, or I write characters who are processing their teens. It was such an intense time for me, and is for everyone, but I've always known I wanted to more directly dive into that time and all the visceral feelings of adolescence,” Martin told Netflix's Tudum. “I was a wayward teen in the early 2000s, and my best friend was sent to one of these troubled teen institutes when she was 16. She came back and had just the craziest stories about it.”
Wayward is set in the fictional Tall Pines, Vermont, specifically at Tall Pines Academy, which is run by the mysterious Evelyn Wade, played by Toni Collette. When police officer Alex Dempsey arrives in town, he quickly notices that things are not quite as they seem at the school — and they're not, as a group of students are actively trying to escape Wade's cultish clutches.
The new series incorporates elements of horror, mystery, mysticism, and even a little sci-fi for the ideal October viewing; all episodes of Wayward are currently available to stream on Netflix. Below, meet the cast of Netflix's Wayward.
Mae Martin as Alex Dempsey
Martin didn't just create the series; they also star as Officer Alex Dempsey, a police officer who moves to Tall Pines with his wife, Laura. Alex is dealing with some past issues, which come to light when he begins investigating what's going on in Tall Pines. Martin is best known for their stand-up comedy, but they also starred in Netflix's Feel Good.
Toni Collette as Evelyn Wade
Oscar-nominated Australian actor Toni Collette plays Evelyn Wade, who runs Tall Pines Academy. Though she initially appears to be sweet and motherly to her students, there's another side to Evelyn — a much darker side. Collette has a stacked resumé that includes The Sixth Sense, Hereditary, Little Miss Sunshine, and Knives Out, among many, many other projects.
Alyvia Alyn Lind as Leila
Leila is a student at Tall Pines and is dealing with the loss of her beloved sister. She is played by Alyvia Alyn Lind, who has been acting since she was a child, most notably with a long-running role on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. (If her name sounds familiar, it may be because her sister, Emily Alyn Lind, played Audrey in HBO Max's Gossip Girl reboot.)
Sydney Topliffe as Abbie
Sydney Topliffe plays Abbie, Leila's BFF, who is a newer student at Tall Pines Academy and ended up there due to teenage rebellion. The two hatch a plan to escape the school and Evelyn Wade's clutches. Topliffe grew up in Canada and has had a few small roles, including Hulu's Davey and Jonesie's Locker; Wayward is her first major role.
Brandon Jay McLaren as Dwayne Andrews
Dwayne Andrews is a police officer and Alex's partner, though he may have ulterior motives. He is played by Brandon Jay McLaren, who has been acting for years and has appeared in film and TV projects including Netflix's 2021 Firefly Lane adaptation and ABC's The Rookie.
Sarah Gadon as Laura Redman
Laura is Alex's wife, who is pregnant with their first child. She has ties to the school, as she was once a student there. Sarah Gadon is a Canadian actor who has been working since she was a child, including a role on the classic ‘90s Nickelodeon horror series Are You Afraid of the Dark? More recently, Gadon appeared in the 2023 film Ferrari and had a recurring role on Mahershala Ali’s 2019 season of True Detective.
John Daniel as Rory
John Daniel stars as Rory, another Tall Pines Academy student who joins forces with Leila and Abbie to attempt an escape. Before Daniel nabbed the role of Rory, he played Donald on the rebooted Hardy Boys series.
Tattiawna Jones as Rabbit
Tattiawna Jones plays Rabbit, Evelyn Wade's next-in-command and the head of the girls at Tall Pines Academy. Jones was born in Canada and has acted in films, TV, and theater projects, including recurring roles on Washington Black, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Bold Type.
Joshua Close as Duck
Joshua Close holds the role of Duck, Rabbit's counterpart; he is the head of the boys at Tall Pines Academy. Close previously acted in the Oscar-nominated Killers of the Flower Moon.
Patrick J. Adams as Wyatt Turner
Patrick J. Adams plays Mr. Turner, a counselor at Tall Pines Academy, though his advice isn't always given with the best of intentions. Adams is best known for his role as Mike Ross on the popular TV series Suits. He has also acted in 2022's Prime Video series adaptation of A League of Their Own.
Isolde Ardies as Stacey
Isolde Ardies plays Stacey, Abbie's roommate, who respects Evelyn Wade's power and plays by the rules. Wayward is Ardies's first major role.
