Netflix released all 10 episodes of “Outer Banks” Season 5 on August 20, 2026, ending the show Drew Starkey has starred in since it premiered in 2020. For Rafe Cameron, the ending is framed as redemption rather than a legal resolution. Starkey is drawing attention from several overlapping threads: renewed speculation about him as Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino’s “American Psycho,” a separate, unconfirmed rumor linking him to Margaret Qualley, longtime unconfirmed dating rumors involving Odessa A’zion, and coverage of the cast’s August 15 “Pogues For Life” farewell and Starkey’s “TODAY” appearance. Separately, Qualley’s representative denied infidelity rumors involving Qualley and Jack Antonoff, calling the press narratives “categorically untrue.” The current attention most likely reflects a convergence of these threads, with the August 20 release of the final “Outer Banks” season the likeliest single driver; no one factor has been confirmed as the cause of the spike.
Key facts
- August 20, 2026 — Netflix released all 10 episodes of “Outer Banks” Season 5, the show’s final season.
- Drew Starkey has played Rafe Cameron since the series premiered in 2020.
- Rafe’s ending — The finale frames his story as a redemption arc rather than a legal resolution.
- Starkey is currently filming Jeff Nichols’ drama “King Snake” with Michael Shannon and Margaret Qualley.
- A24’s “Onslaught,” featuring Starkey, opens in U.S. theaters September 4, 2026.
How the finale ends for Rafe
By the close of Season 4, Rafe was responsible for the Pogues losing their treasure, killing Sheriff Peterkin and trying to kill his own sister, Sarah, according to Deadline’s season recap. The finale doesn’t erase that. Deadline frames Rafe’s ending as a redemption arc rather than a legal resolution.
Starkey described the ending himself in comments after the finale dropped: “I feel like there’s a bit of resolution. I’m feeling like Rafe has found a bit of peace after years of torment,” he said, calling it “a bit of a rebirth for him at the end.”
Cast’s early goodbye
Five days before the finale aired, the cast had already said an early goodbye to fans at a “Pogues For Life” event in Los Angeles on August 15, where Starkey was visibly emotional. He’d appeared on NBC’s “TODAY” show earlier in the summer to promote the final season alongside his Apple TV+ series “Lucky”; hosts surprised him with a message from Pauly D after he revealed he’s a “Jersey Shore” fan.
What’s next: American Psycho speculation, without a role confirmed
With “Outer Banks” behind him, Starkey is already facing a new round of casting questions. Asked directly by GQ whether he’s been cast as Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming “American Psycho” adaptation, he gave “no comment” on the role itself but confirmed he has read the script: “The script is amazing, though.” No official casting for the lead role in the film has been announced, and other names are also circulating in casting speculation. It’s not the first time his name has come up for a big franchise role: trade outlets including ComingSoon reported that Starkey tested for the Cyclops role in Marvel’s X-Men reboot but didn’t advance past a second round, while other reports said the role went to “Heartstopper” actor Kit Connor. Asked about the rumor on Entertainment Tonight, he said he’d “never even heard of it” but called himself “totally open” to a Marvel or DC role.
Other confirmed projects
Starkey isn’t short on confirmed work, either. He co-starred with Anya Taylor-Joy in “Lucky,” the Apple TV+ limited series that premiered July 15, 2026, and he’s part of the ensemble in A24’s “Onslaught” — alongside Adria Arjona, Dan Stevens and Rebecca Hall — due in U.S. theaters September 4, 2026. He’s currently filming Jeff Nichols’ drama “King Snake” opposite Michael Shannon and Margaret Qualley.