The Outer Banks universe may continue with Kildare, a prequel set 20 years earlier that will explore how the island’s Kooks and Pogues divide began.
Kildare Is Being Developed as an Outer Banks Prequel
August 21, 2026 – Outer Banks has officially reached the end of its five-season run, but the story of Kildare Island may not be finished. The creators of the Netflix teen drama are developing a prequel series, currently being referred to as Kildare, that will travel back two decades to explore the origins of the island’s long-running class divide.
Josh Pate, Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke are working on the project with Netflix. While the series is still in development and many details remain unknown, the creators have already outlined the central idea: viewers will see how the conflict between the wealthy Kooks and working-class Pogues began.
That premise gives the potential spinoff a chance to expand the mythology of Outer Banks without simply repeating the adventures of John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, JJ and their friends.
Credit: Netflix
The Story Will Go Back 20 Years
The planned prequel will be set approximately 20 years before the events of Outer Banks. Rather than following the original characters in their teenage years, the story will focus on the generation before them.
Pate explained that the series will examine how Kildare became divided between those who had wealth and those who did not. That social conflict has been one of the defining elements of Outer Banks from the beginning, with the Kooks occupying the island’s wealthier Figure 8 area and the Pogues living in the less affluent Cut.
The prequel could therefore provide context for a conflict fans have watched unfold across the original series while introducing a very different version of Kildare.
Familiar Families Could Return
Although no cast has been announced, the original series has already established several family connections that could help shape the prequel. The younger versions of characters’ parents could potentially become central figures in the new story.
John B, JJ, Sarah and Rafe’s fathers have all appeared throughout Outer Banks, while the show has also introduced members of Topper, Pope and Kiara’s extended families. Those existing characters provide a foundation for exploring what life on Kildare looked like before the younger generation inherited the island’s divisions.
JJ’s family history could be especially significant following the revelations about his birth parents in Season 4. However, the creators have not confirmed which familiar families or characters will actually appear in Kildare.
New Characters Will Be Part of the Story
The prequel is not expected to rely entirely on familiar names. Burke has said the story will be seen through both characters audiences already know and new characters, with the younger generation’s parents serving as the central link to the original series.
That approach could allow Kildare to feel connected to Outer Banks while still functioning as its own drama. Instead of simply recreating the dynamics of the original show with older versions of familiar characters, the prequel can explore how those relationships, rivalries and social structures developed in the first place.
Credit: Netflix
There Is No Cast Yet
At present, Netflix has not announced any cast members for Kildare. The project is still at the script-development stage, meaning casting decisions are likely further ahead in the process.
That also means the returning members of the original Outer Banks cast have not been confirmed for the prequel. Given the 20-year time jump, the series would naturally require younger performers to portray the previous generation.
For fans, casting is likely to become one of the biggest upcoming questions once the project moves closer to production.
Filming Has Not Started
Kildare has not begun filming yet. According to the show’s creators, the script is currently being developed with Netflix, and their immediate priority is getting the story into shape before production begins.
That places the project firmly in its early stages. There is currently no production schedule, filming location announcement or trailer, and audiences should not expect footage in the immediate future.
A Release Date Has Not Been Set
There is also no release date for Kildare at this time. The project needs to move through scripting, casting and production before Netflix can establish when the prequel will arrive.
The lack of a date is not unusual for a series that has only recently entered formal development. For now, the most concrete information is the premise and the creators involved.
Meanwhile, all five seasons of Outer Banks are available to stream on Netflix, giving fans an opportunity to revisit the original story while waiting for more information about the potential prequel.
The Prequel Could Expand the Outer Banks Universe
Kildare has the potential to answer questions that the original series could only hint at. By exploring the island 20 years earlier, the show can examine how family histories, wealth and social divisions shaped the world that eventually produced the Pogues and Kooks.
It also gives the franchise a way to continue after Outer Banks while taking the story in a new direction. For now, however, the project remains in development, and Netflix has yet to formally announce its cast, filming plans or release date.
FAQs
What is Kildare?
Kildare is the working title for a planned Outer Banks prequel series that will be set approximately 20 years before the original show.
What will the Outer Banks prequel be about?
The series will explore how Kildare Island became divided between the wealthy Kooks and working-class Pogues and how that social conflict began.
Will the original Outer Banks cast return?
No cast members have been officially announced for Kildare yet. The creators have suggested that the story will involve both familiar family connections and new characters.
Has Kildare started filming?
No. The project is still in the script-development stage and filming has not yet begun.
When will the Outer Banks prequel be released?
Netflix has not announced a release date for Kildare.
Published by HOLR Magazine