Is the Upcoming Psychological Thriller ‘Wayward’ on Netflix Based on a True Story?

In April 2023, Netflix greenlit an eight-part thriller from Mae Martin that is already sending chills down spines, even before its release. Wayward

dives into a deceptively charming town hiding a rotten core, where the glossy surface masks the brutal reality of the troubled teen industry. This is not just another eerie drama—it is a descent into something truly sinister. As anticipation builds, one terrifying question lingers: What if the nightmare behind Wayward

Initially titled Tall Pines, this sleepy town with twisted roots is getting louder, and fans are eager to know: is the chilling story they have waited years to tell inspired by true events?

Though Wayward

Mae Martin’s own experiences add raw authenticity to the chilling portrayal of youth counseling and control. This series does not just imagine darkness; it exposes a brutal, hidden world where vulnerable teens can get trapped in a nightmare.

Wayward had me at “Toni Collette plays the enigmatic leader of a school for troubled teens.” #NextOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/zvZQBfGhap

— Netflix (@netflix) January 30, 2025

Netflix has not announced an official release date for Wayward,

but it is expected to arrive sometime in 2025. With a strong cast including Mae Martin, Brandon Jay McLaren, Sarah Gadon, Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind.

This limited series is already generating significant buzz and anticipation online. While Wayward

is already stirring excitement ahead of its release, Netflix’s previous teen true-life thriller Adolescence

shattered records and set a high bar, surpassing many fan-favourite thriller shows.

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Since its debut, Adolescence

has obliterated records and eclipsed fan favorites such as The

Apprentice

, invading viewers’ minds with a spine-tingling tale seen through a boy’s frightened eyes—its eerie hold refuses to release or allow rest.

Netflix’s Adolescence

 shook up the UK TV world as it became the first streaming show to top weekly ratings and outpace hits like BBC’s The Apprentice

and Death in Paradise,

according to BARB. Its eerie premiere drew 6.45 million viewers, breaking records set earlier this year.

Each episode kept fans hooked with its unsettling story, beating traditional television favorites. Since its March 13, 2025, release, Adolescence

has been hailed by critics, scoring a chilling 99% on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 9.4/10 rating.

“Adolescence” now has 66.3 million views in less than two weeks.

This becomes the most ever for a Netflix limited series. pic.twitter.com/Z7F5NpUxrb

— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) March 25, 2025

Adolescence

stands at ninth place on Netflix’s all-time viewership chart, based on tracking the first 91 days of streaming. Its intense story of a 13-year-old accused of ending a classmate’s life sparked fierce global debate. With its masterful single-shot cinematography, the series packs a heavy emotional punch that lingers. Viewers, however, were eager to uncover the real story behind the bombastic series

. Now, as Wayward

builds unstoppable hype, the real question is—can this new teen thriller eclipse its chilling predecessor?

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Are you excited to watch Wayward

on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!