What happens when a family empire starts to sink? ‘The Waterfront’ finds out
The new Netflix drama follows a North Carolina fishing dynasty pushed to the edge.
Back when I was making reality TV, I spent a good chunk of time in Virginia and North Carolina — and besides eating the best crab cakes of my life, I remember thinking it was some of the most stunning waterfront I’d ever seen. Peaceful on the surface, but you could tell there were stories simmering underneath… and I was there to bring them to the surface. That’s the exact vibe of “ The Waterfront ,” the new Netflix drama from Kevin Williamson (the guy behind “ Scream ” and “ Dawson’s Creek ”). This one’s all about the Buckleys, a fishing family with deep roots, darker secrets, and a whole lot to lose. Here’s everything you need to know about “The Waterfront” before it drops on Thursday, June 19 on Netflix .
Everything you need to know about the ‘The Waterfront’ TV series:
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When will the ‘The Waterfront’ TV series come out on Netflix?
“ The Waterfront ” premieres on Netflix on Thursday, June 19, 2025. All eight one-hour episodes will drop at once, so you can binge the whole Buckley family meltdown in one sitting if you’re up for it. Netflix announced the premiere date alongside a batch of first-look photos, and the trailer gives a glimpse of the high-stakes family drama — and coastal chaos — that’s about to unfold.
What is the ‘The Waterfront’ TV series about?
At its core, “ The Waterfront ” is a family drama about legacy, desperation, and what happens when the tide starts to turn against you. It follows the Buckleys, a powerful family who basically built the town of Havenport, North Carolina — from fishing docks to fine dining. But now their empire’s slipping through their fingers. Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany), the patriarch, is recovering from two heart attacks and trying to stay out of the game. The problem is that his wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) are making some questionable moves to keep the family’s businesses afloat, and it’s not going well.
The Buckleys are in deep… financially and morally. There’s talk of smuggling drugs through their fishing boats, shady deals, and a fast-approaching $2 million deadline that’s got everyone on edge. Meanwhile, their daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist) is trying to stay sober, rebuild her life, and reconnect with her son, who now lives with her ex. She’s the kind of character who could easily blow everything up or hold it all together, depending on the day. And that tension — between what the Buckleys want to do and what they have to do — is where the show lives.
What makes “The Waterfront” unique is how the location is like a character in itself. The beautiful, haunted setting of coastal North Carolina is full of postcard-worthy views — sailboats, beach houses, busy docks — but just beneath the surface, there’s tension, corruption, and a community slowly unraveling. Creator Kevin Williamson says it’s inspired by real events from his own life, and even in the trailer, you can feel that personal weight in the story. These aren’t polished antiheroes or cartoon villains; they’re flawed people trying to survive, and sometimes that means crossing lines they can’t uncross. If you’re into messy characters, high-stakes choices, and that mix of grit and beauty, this show’s got plenty to offer.
Watch a trailer for ‘The Waterfront’
The Waterfront
A prominent North Carolina fishing family wades into treacherous waters to keep their crumbling business empire afloat.
Who’s been cast so far in the ‘The Waterfront’ TV series?
The cast of “ The Waterfront ” is led by Holt McCallany (“ Mindhunter ”) as Harlan Buckley, the hardened family patriarch trying to claw his way back into power after two heart attacks. Maria Bello (“ BEEF ”) plays Belle Buckley, his sharp and complicated wife who’s been running the family fishery — and possibly running it into the ground. Jake Weary (“ Animal Kingdom ”) plays Cane, Harlan’s son, stuck between loyalty to his dad and the weight of his own bad choices. And Melissa Benoist (“ Supergirl ”) stars as Bree, the brilliant but self-destructive daughter trying to stay sober and reconnect with her teenage son.
Rounding out the cast is Rafael L. Silva as Shawn, the new bartender with a secret that could shake everything up, and Humberly González as Jenna, a local journalist with a past — and maybe a future — with Cane. Danielle Campbell plays Cane’s wife, Peyton, the Southern belle trying to keep her family intact, and Brady Hepner plays Bree’s estranged son, Diller, who idolizes his grandfather and wants nothing to do with his mom.
Guest stars include Topher Grace as a dangerous drug kingpin, Michael Gaston as Sheriff Clyde Porter, and Zach Roerig as Troy. The ensemble is packed, and with this many tangled relationships and hidden agendas, things are bound to get messy fast.
Is ‘The Waterfront’ based on a true story?
Yes, “ The Waterfront ” is inspired by real events from creator Kevin Williamson’s own life. While the series is fictional, Williamson has said the story pulls directly from his experience growing up in coastal North Carolina, where his father worked in the commercial fishing industry. When the business started drying up in the 1980s, his dad was approached with an offer to transport drugs by boat — something Williamson says he ultimately did to help feed the family and send his son to college.
That real-life struggle — about how far people will go when survival is on the line — became the emotional core of the show. Williamson has described “The Waterfront” as the other half of his personal story, with “Dawson’s Creek” reflecting one side of his upbringing and this series capturing the darker, more complicated legacy of his father’s choices. Set in a fictional fishing town called Havenport, the show follows what happens when a family empire starts to crack, and the only way forward might mean crossing a line you can’t uncross.
Who are the creators behind ‘The Waterfront’?
“ The Waterfront ” is created, written, and executive produced by Kevin Williamson — the same mind behind “Scream,” “Dawson’s Creek,” and “ The Vampire Diaries .” This series marks a return to his North Carolina roots, both literally and thematically, as it pulls from personal family history to tell a story about legacy and survival. Williamson is joined by executive producers Ben Fast (via Outerbanks Entertainment), Michael Narducci, and Marcos Siega, who also directs the first two episodes. Siega’s past work includes “ You ” and “ Dexter: New Blood .”
Netflix
Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix Originals. Renowned for its ability to produce groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”
…The platform constantly updates its catalog, introducing fresh content alongside timeless classics and international hits. Netflix’s commitment to storytelling has also earned critical acclaim, with award-winning exclusives such as “Roma,” “Marriage Story,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Mank,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In 2023, their animated film “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, further solidifying Netflix’s reputation for high-quality content.
Netflix offers three plans – stream on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard with Ads” ($7.99) plan, on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard” ($17.99) plan, and 4 devices in up to 4K on the “Premium” ($24.99) plan. This pricing is slightly higher than years prior as all tiers were raised in January 2025 .
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