A fresh series from Netflix is in the works, featuring Maya Hawke of “Stranger Things” fame, and it’s on the lookout for actors who can authentically deliver a distinct upstate New York accent. This particular hallmark, often described as nasally and somewhat grating, is a central requirement for potential cast members.
The series is an adaptation of Liz Moore’s upcoming 2024 novel, “The God of the Woods,” and as production gears up to begin next month, there’s a call out for local talent. Specifically, actors aged between 20 and 69 from the Adirondack region are being sought, according to a report from the Press-Republican.
The casting notice highlights a particular interest in individuals who either possess or can convincingly replicate the North Country accent, a sound that is almost Midwestern in its intonation. This unique accent can often be off-putting to those accustomed to the iconic New York City speech patterns, where people talk about their home as “New Yawk,” enjoy “cawfee,” and casually toss around phrases like “Fuhgeddaboudit.”
In contrast, upstate New Yorkers might pronounce “across” as “acrost,” prefer “melk” to “milk,” and exclaim “Jeezum Crow!” in lieu of profanity, setting them apart from their downstate counterparts. This regional flavor is integral to the series, which Netflix describes as a multigenerational drama set against the backdrop of the Adirondacks.
Upstate New Yorkers instead say “acrost” for “across,” sip “melk” as opposed to “milk” and exclaim “Jeezum Crow!” rather than outright risk profanity like their downstate neighbors.
The accent’s Adirondacks home will be the setting for the Netflix series, described by the streamer as a multigenerational drama.
As with the novel, the show will focus on investigator character Judy Luptack as she delves into the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl from a summer camp.
Hawke, the New York City-born-and-raised daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, will star as Luptack.
Kerry Condon, a chameleon-like Irish actress who received an Academy Award nomination for her role in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” is set to play the missing girl’s mother.
The show’s casting director is Laura Rosenthal, a renowned New York-based industry vet whose long list of credits includes “A Quiet Place” and “May December.”
But while the series is set within the Adirondacks and will feature its distinct accent, it won’t be filmed there.
Production on the show will start in June within Beacon, squarely within the Hudson Valley, according to the Press-Republican.
