The Runarounds is an upcoming American musical teen drama series created by Jonas Pate, the mind behind the hit Outer Banks. All eight episodes of the show will be available on Amazon Prime Video on September 1, 2025. It mixes music, friendship and the highs and lows of going after your dreams, which makes it a new addition to the teen drama genre.
In this show, a group of recent high school graduates forms a rock band because they want to get away from the boring paths that have been set for them. Over the course of one summer, they strive for fame, navigate relationships, and embrace risks that could forever alter their lives. The show wants to be both real and exciting, and it has a cast of real-life teenage rock stars.
For fans curious about where the magic was captured, NetFilming takes a closer look at the beautiful filming spots that brought The Runarounds to life.
Where Was The Runarounds Filmed?
The main filming locations were Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA. Both places had a mix of old-world charm, lively culture, and beautiful scenery that was perfect for a story about young people and music.
Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
The Runarounds was mostly filmed in Wilmington. The city is known for being one of the East Coast’s busiest filming locations. It has historic streets, a beautiful riverfront, and a vibrant arts scene. This place also feels like home to Jonas Pate because his previous work, Outer Banks has strong ties to North Carolina.
The city’s downtown area, unique buildings, and coastal vibe make it a wonderful place for a story about young people forming a band. The growing music scene in Wilmington also makes the show feel more real.
Trivia: Wilmington has hosted many well-known productions over the years, including Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, Safe Haven, and Iron Man 3.
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA
Wrightsville Beach, which is a short drive from Wilmington, gave the show the coastal energy it needed. The sandy beach, waves that were good for surfing, and laid-back vibe made it the perfect place for outdoor band scenes, late-night hangouts, and times when the characters thought about things.
The beach town’s natural beauty is a pleasing change from the more urban scenes in Wilmington, which is an important part of the series’ visual appeal.
Trivia: Wrightsville Beach has been in films like Sleeping with the Enemy and Weekend at Bernie’s. Both of these films used the beach’s ocean views to make their stories better.
When Did the Filming Take Place?
Filming started in August 2024, which is right in the middle of North Carolina’s summer. The crew used the warm weather, sunny skies, and coastal scenery to match the show’s summer-themed story. Production finished later in the year, giving the team enough time to improve both the music and the visuals in post-production.
Production Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 2024 | Filming officially began in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, NC |
| Late 2024 | Principal photography wrapped after capturing summer-themed scenes |
| Early 2025 | Post-production and editing phase started |
| Mid-2025 | Promotional trailers and first-look images released |
| September 1, 2025 | All 8 episodes premiere on Amazon Prime Video |
The Runarounds Behind The Scenes
I always find it fascinating how a show like The Runarounds comes together, especially when it starts with real people and their stories. Jonas Pate, the creator, wanted to avoid faking the music side of things. He said, “But I knew that most times what happens is you get actors to play musicians and you fake the music. I was like, ‘Let’s not do that. Let’s see if we can find who’s out there.'”
So, they put out a call on social media during Outer Banks production: “We basically said, ‘We’re going to put a band in Outer Banks, send us your high school band,'” Pate explained. They got 5,000 submissions in a week!
The chosen musicians—William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock, and Jesse Golliher—were still in high school back then. Pate noted, “They were still in high school. I was thinking that these kids are going to freak out if they’ve never had cameras in their face before. They were just normal kids, so I did put them in a scene.”
According to EW.com, to build the characters, the team held sessions like therapy talks: “Because the kids weren’t actors when we started, we would sit down with them and kind of have these therapy sessions: ‘Tell us about your life. Who are your parents? What do you like?’ And we tried to write characters inspired by their real-life stories,” Pate shared. This made the show’s debates feel real, like “should we go to college or be in a band? That’s the real debate, the actual choices that they’ve had.”
Family played a big role too. Pate mentioned, “My daughter’s on the show, my wife is a producer on the show. But we have lots of departments that have family members inside of it. It’s just more fun.”
Co-producer Michael Jefferson added, “The hours are crazy, but it still makes it a little more fun when you like the people you work with. Wilmington has a tight-knit film community and a tight-knit film family.” The band has grown since, writing songs and playing festivals. Pate is proud: “They’ve actually become a band. They’ve written tons of songs. They just played their first festival in Charlotte. They’re out of high school now and they’re totally legit musically. It’s awesome.”
Pate drew inspiration from his past, like a talented musician friend whose band didn’t make it big due to timing. He said, “Life is so unfair. This guy deserves to win. And that was the beginning of it.”
They’ve even planned for more seasons: “We have a whole architecture for five-plus seasons mapped out that tells the story of what happens to them.” Amazon loved it so much they greenlit season two early. Pate called it “almost unheard of” and said, “It’s so good — we’re really proud of it.”
This behind-the-scenes magic shows how passion and real talent turned a simple idea into something special. If you’re into music and dreams, these stories add extra heart to the series.
The Runarounds Official Trailer
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FAQs
Q1: When will The Runarounds premiere on Prime Video?
A: The Runarounds is set to premiere on September 1, 2025, with all 8 episodes releasing at once.
Q2: Where was The Runarounds filmed?
A: The series was mainly filmed in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA.
Q3: Who created The Runarounds?
A: The show was created by Jonas Pate, known for Outer Banks, with the teleplay by David Wilcox.
Q4: Who stars in The Runarounds?
A: The cast includes real-life musicians William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock, Jesse Golliher, and others, as well as Lilah Pate.
Q5: Why did the production pick Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach?
A: The show’s mix of music, youth, and summer vibes was perfect for Wilmington’s rich film history and Wrightsville Beach’s beautiful coastline.
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