In This Article
- The Roles and the Creative Team
- The Novel Behind the Adaptation
- Moore's Adaptation Track Record and What to Watch
Netflix has confirmed the lead casting for its upcoming drama series adaptation of The God of the Woods, the 2024 novel by Liz Moore. According to Netflix Tudum, Maya Hawke and Kerry Condon will star in the production. Deadline first broke the news of Condon's casting exclusively, describing her as a BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee whose recent credits include Train Dreams. Variety confirmed that Condon will star opposite Hawke in the project.
The Roles and the Creative Team
According to Wikipedia's entry on the novel, Hawke has been cast as Judy Luptack, while Condon will play Alice Van Laar — a character central to the story's class dynamics between a wealthy Adirondack family and the working community that depends on them. As reported by What's on Netflix, Condon's Alice Van Laar is a key figure in that conflict.
In a notable creative arrangement, Moore herself will co-showrun and executive-produce the series alongside screenwriter Liz Hannah, as Netflix Tudum reports. Wikipedia notes that the series adaptation — with Moore and Hannah attached as writers and producers — was first reported in July 2024, with the spring 2026 casting announcements marking a significant step forward in production.
The Novel Behind the Adaptation
The God of the Woods is a thriller set in the Adirondack Mountains, following the disappearance of a child from a summer camp on land controlled by the wealthy Van Laar family — and the secrets that resurface when another child goes missing years later, investigated in part by an inexperienced female detective, per Wikipedia. The novel appeared on The New York Times Best Seller List for 38 weeks as of April 2025, and the Times named it one of the best crime novels of the year, with its review calling it "more than just a mystery about children lost in the woods" and praising its depiction of parental grief as "acutely, painfully real." The New Yorker described it as an "expertly paced thriller" that "plays dexterously with the tension between the wealthy and the working class they employ." The Washington Post called it "chillingly astute about the invisible boundaries demarcating social class." For a full critical assessment of the book, see our review.
Moore's Adaptation Track Record and What to Watch
Moore is no stranger to seeing her fiction translated for the screen. As NPR reports, her previous novel Long Bright River was adapted into a Peacock series starring Amanda Seyfried. Speaking to NPR contributor Dave Davies, Moore discussed her involvement in the television version of The God of the Woods and her writing process more broadly. In a second NPR appearance, the adaptation was again confirmed as in development at Netflix. No premiere date has been announced by the streamer. Casting and production progress will be the key developments to follow as the project moves forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore worth reading before the Netflix show?
Absolutely. The God of the Woods is a rich, atmospheric literary thriller with exceptional character development and a layered exploration of class and privilege that the television format may not fully replicate. Reading the novel first will give you a deeper appreciation for the story's psychological complexity and the choices the adaptation makes.
What is The God of the Woods about?
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore follows the decades-old disappearance of a child at an Adirondack summer camp, unfolding across multiple timelines as buried secrets begin to surface. At its core, the novel is a psychological thriller about class, privilege, and the stories powerful families construct to protect themselves.
Who stars in the Netflix adaptation of The God of the Woods?
Netflix has announced Maya Hawke and Kerry Condon as the lead stars of the series adaptation. Liz Moore, the novel's author, will serve as co-showrunner and executive producer alongside screenwriter Liz Hannah, lending the project a strong degree of creative fidelity to the source material.
Should I read The God of the Woods or wait for the Netflix series?
We recommend reading The God of the Woods first. The novel's multi-timeline structure, intricate character motivations, and literary prose offer an experience that streaming adaptations rarely replicate fully. With a 4.2/5 rating from LuvemBooks, it's a genuinely rewarding read in its own right.
Is The God of the Woods appropriate for fans of psychological thrillers like Tana French?
Yes — readers who enjoy Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series or Celeste Ng's character-driven family dramas will find a lot to love in The God of the Woods. It blends the best of literary fiction and psychological thriller, though be aware that pacing can slow in the middle sections.
When will the Netflix God of the Woods series be released?
Netflix greenlit the series in December 2025, with casting announcements confirmed in spring 2026. A specific premiere date has not yet been announced. According to Netflix Tudum, production details and further casting news are expected to follow in the coming months.
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