Netflix announced a new podcast inspired by the backstory of Stranger Things character Robin Buckley, who's played by Maya Ray Thurman Hawke in the show.
Written and directed by Lauren Shippen, the six-episode Rebel Robin: Surviving Hawkins fiction podcast series will star Hawke and Sean Maher (the voice of Nightwing in Firefly). Posted on YouTube this week, the first trailer for the podcast teases the series as "the first Stranger Things podcast and the monster you didn't see coming."
The official synopsis for Rebel Robin: Surviving Hawkins reads,
Robin's favorite teacher, Mr. Hauser, offers his classroom if she ever needs a quiet place to eat lunch away from the stress of school. Over the next few months, Robin and Hauser meet regularly to discuss philosophy, books, friendship, independence and the disturbing number of Tom Cruise movies in 1983. A coming of age story about the struggle of being different in a small town, Surviving Hawkins explores how learning to be ourselves is truly the bravest thing we can do, because it brings out the scariest monster of all: the judgement of other people.
The new podcast will premiere on June 29, with new episodes premiering weekly. A new companion novel about Robin written by A.R. Capetta will also be released on the same day. The Rebel Robin book will give fans insight into Robin's life prior to meeting Steve Harrington in Season 3 of Stranger Things, as well as follow the Hawkins High School sophomore as she tries to raise enough money to travel to Europe for the summer.
News of the podcast comes just days after it was revealed that Season 4 of Stranger Things will feature four new cast members. Anne With an E star Amybeth McNulty has joined the cast as Vickie, who is described as being "a cool, fast-talking band nerd who catches the eye of one of our beloved heroes." Meanwhile, Queen Sugar actor Myles Truitt will portray a Hawkins basketball star named Patrick and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's Regina Ting Chen will appear as Ms. Kelly, "a popular guidance counselor who cares deeply for her students -- especially those struggling the most." The fourth new addition is Grace Van Dien (Charlie Says) as Chrissy, a "Hawkins’ High lead cheerleader and the most popular girl in school."
Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things stars Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Priah Ferguson, Cary Elwes, Jake Busey, Maya Ray Thurman Hawke and Levon Thurman-Hawke. Season 4 has yet to receive a release date.
Source: YouTube