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Forbes
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Netflix's Crime Drama ‘The Waterfront' Was Inspired By Real Life Events
Holt McCallany and Maria Bello in 'The Waterfront' on Netflix. Series creator and showrunner Kevin Williamson drew inspiration from his father's past mistakes while writing the Netflix crime drama The Waterfront. The result is a gripping and dynamic tale about one family's misguided approach to resolving their financial troubles. Set in coastal North Carolina, the story of the prominent Buckley clan is told over eight episodes, each packed with twists, turns, and cliffhangers that will keep you hooked. It's one of the best new shows in years and is reminiscent of classic family dramas, The Sopranos and Ray Donovan, in that there is nothing the Buckleys will not do to preserve their legacy. Williamson, who has had a string of hit TV shows including Scream, Dawson's Creek, and The Vampire Diaries, sat down in an interview before the series premiered on June 19 to talk about his dad's mistakes, which cost the family dearly. First, he clarified that the Buckleys are fictional, but their circumstances are not entirely made up. The Buckleys are a wealthy family on the verge of losing their fishing empire. They've ruled Havenport, North Carolina, dominating everything from the local fishing industry to the town's restaurant scene. Jake Weary, Danielle Campbell, and Melissa Benoist in 'The Waterfront' on Netflix. Their once-profitable family business faces financial ruin when patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) suffers from two heart attacks. To keep the family businesses afloat, his wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) attempt to sell some precious land, knowing Harlan would be devastated. They also get into the drug smuggling business with some very unsavory characters, including drug kingpin Grady, played brilliantly by Topher Grace. What was meant to be a temporary fix quickly becomes a nightmare they cannot escape. Harlan attempts to take control of the spiraling situation as the Buckleys' daughter, Bree (Melissa Benoist), who is an addict in recovery and has lost custody of her son Diller (Brady Hepner), soon finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship that could threaten the family's future. As Williamson explained, the events surrounding this fictitious family were inspired by his father's misdeeds. He took creative license to explore the lengths people will go to when their legacy is at stake. Williamson, who grew up in North Carolina, filmed the show in Southport, which is near Wilmington. He also filmed two of his biggest hit series, Dawson's Creek and I Know What You Did Last Summer, there. 'I'm very familiar with North Carolina because I grew up about two hours from there. There was a real Dawson's Creek where I grew up.' He then described the impetus for this story. 'My dad was a fisherman, and I come from a long line of fishermen,' he said, clarifying that though this story and family are completely fictional, his dad's real-life troubles inspired it. 'My dad got into some trouble in the 1980s. He was a fisherman, and it was tough. The regulations and the government quotas that they were putting on the fishermen at the time…he just couldn't make a living. And for a lot of fishermen, the business went away. If you look at the percentages of where we were and where we are today, and now with the import business and how you can get fresh fish from other countries, the American fisherman is growing extinct. My dad was falling on rough times, and someone offered him a chance to make some money on the down-low by smuggling some drugs, and he did it.' Williamson paused as he reflected on his father. 'He was a very good man who was trying to support his family.' He explained that this was not a one-time incident and led to a multi-year prison sentence, of which he served 11 months in a minimum security prison. He reiterated that his father was a good family man who made mistakes. 'I think when it comes to feeding and supporting your family, you would do anything.' Williamson described this family drama as very much like Dawson's Creek in that both were inspired by his experience growing up on a creek in North Carolina. "I love stories where a family, in this case, the Buckley clan, hits hard times. In this story, they try to steer the ship in the other direction.' The drug smuggling world, they quickly learn, is like quicksand; you cannot just dip your toe in without your entire body getting immersed in the mess. To extricate themselves from Grady's unrelenting grip, they do some pretty horrendous things. Jake Weary and Melissa Benoist in 'The Waterfront' on Netflix. Harlan, his wife Belle, and their children Cane and Bree each cross moral lines when it comes to saving the family as they get deeper and deeper into the world of crime. For Williamson, this was an examination into humanity. 'I wanted to explore the duality of life. You know, we're not this or that. We're this and something else. There's a duality to us; we are light and dark. I wanted to explore that in the context of a family that's challenged with crisis, because I think everyone today is challenged in some way.' While not making excuses for his characters' choices, Williamson points to the financial challenges many people face. 'We live in the gig economy era, and everyone's looking for a side hustle just to make ends meet, and this family has a history in this world.' Each family member does something they never thought they would or could, but it's all for the good of the family. McCallany, Benoist, and Weary discussed their characters in a sit-down interview. Holt McCallany in 'The Waterfront' on Netflix. McCallany described Harlan as 'a very imperfect man in many ways,' but explained his good intentions. 'He does a lot of things that a lot of people would consider morally ambiguous, but at the same time, I think that he loves his family very deeply. They're the most important thing in the world to him. And so, at the end of the day, the decisions that he makes come from a place of love.' When asked to talk about her character, Bree, Benoist said she found a way to understand and relate to her. She's complex, and despite feeling betrayed by her family, when push comes to shove, she does something extreme to save them. 'I don't think she likes herself, and I think that's a force for a lot of her behavior. The entire time that we were shooting this, I found myself defending her time and time again because I could see that this person was in so much pain. She has a lot of her father in her, and she so desperately wants to be loved and accepted by her family.' Bree's motivation, added Benoist, was her son. 'She wants to atone for all these terrible things that she's done to him. She's trying to make up for all of that. Not just with him, but the rest of her family as well. She has a cross to bear.' As for Cane, who got the family into this drug-smuggling mess, Weary said, 'He's a victim of circumstance and now he's trying to repair his family's legacy.' When asked whether there would be another season, Williamson was quick to answer. 'I'm ready for a second season, because I think we're just getting started.' He wants to keep exploring that gray area between good and bad. 'I love the idea of good people doing bad things. The Buckleys are good people, but they cross the line and the line keeps moving in the show. Once you cross that line, can you come back, and is there salvation?'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Waterfront': Holt McCallany shares how his own dad and Kevin Williamson's father inspired his character
From the creator of Dawson's Creek and The Vampire Diaries, Kevin Williamson, the new Netflix show The Waterfront, starring Holt McCallany, Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary and Maria Bello, definitely leans into Williamson's success with melodrama, but with a more personal edge. While the 1998 show pulled from Williamson personal life, specifically Joey Potter's dad being in prison for drug trafficking, the writer and TV creator goes deeper into his life story for elements of The Waterfront. The show is centred around the Buckley family in Havenport, North Carolina, who have dominated the local fishing industry. It all starts with the Buckleys boat being hijacked as two men are using it to smuggle drugs, complicating the lives of the family that's already facing mounting debt. Harlan Buckley (McCallany) is the patriarch, who's recovering from two heart attacks, married to his wife Belle (Bello), who's tasked with managing her philandering husband, in addition to the family restaurant and fishing business, alongside their son Cane (Weary), who's married to Peyton (Danielle Campbell). But when journalist Jenna (Humberly González) returns to her hometown, there may still be some sparks between her and her high school sweetheart, Cane. Harlan and Belle also have a daughter, Bree (Benoist), a recovering addict who lost custody of her teenage son, Diller (Brady Hepner), after her most recent relapse. A interesting element in The Waterfront is how Bree is trying to work her way back to being in the inner circle of her own family, largely being shut down due to her addiction. In one of the show's most moving scenes, Bree has a frank conversation with Bella where she asks her mom, "When am I going to be a part of this family?" But Bella is firm that she needs to earn her family's trust back by staying sober. "I wish you'd see me as an ally and not an obstacle," Bree says. "Maria Bello is incredible. I've been a fan of hers for a very long time, so getting to do that scene with her was exciting in the first place," Benoist told Yahoo Canada. "I think in that moment of the story, it's something that I certainly was craving. It feels really visceral, wanting to be a part of the family more, so it was satisfying to be able to say it out loud." "That's something that I love about Bree is that she actually does say the bad stuff out loud, the hard things to say. ... Kevin Williamson actually said something to me at one point, in one of our first conversations, that Bree's sort of like the truth teller, and I think that is a moment that she shows that side of her." But McCallany had a particularly interesting task in The Waterfront because much of his character is based on Williamson's experience growing up with his fisherman father in North Carolina, who was a drug runner. "I did feel a little bit of additional responsibility, because I knew that it was a very personal story for Kevin, and much of it was inspired by his dad, and then I'm playing the dad," McCallany said. "So we did talk about it." "I remember sending Kevin an email in which I asked certain questions and presented certain ideas. And he answered my questions and he kind of embraced the ideas, and from that point forward we had a very kind of easy going, open and cordial relationship that really lasted throughout the entire season. I was happy with the dialogue that he was writing for me. He was happy with the way that I was interpreting it. And so there was no conflict in my relationship with Kevin at any time." McCallany added that while he took inspiration from what Williamson told him about his father, the actor also took inspiration from his own dad. "[My father] was a heavy drinker and could unreliable in certain instances," McCallany said. "You take a little of this, you take a little of that, and you kind of build a character ... by deciding what to include and what to exclude. And at the end of the day, Harlan kind of just emerged for me through that process." And of course, with the exploration of Harlan comes his relationship with his son, with Cane often having to try to uphold a murky set of ideals he's gotten from his father. "What's so intriguing about Cane is this battle between the idealized version of himself and who he just really is, the life that he's been given," Weary said. "To get to play with that father-son dynamic is really interesting, especially getting to work with someone like Holt too, who I think we have such a great rapport together." "He added something to that dynamic that I think is really unique and we were able to really have fun with it. And there's ... almost like a comedic element to it, where he's almost like the straight man, and I'm the wild card. And I think that I'm really excited to see where that where that goes." Told in eight episodes, Williamson has created a twisty story where everyone makes mistakes, and the evaluation starts to become the best way to move beyond bad decisions.
The Review Geek
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Has The Waterfront been renewed for Season 2? Here's what we know:
Renewed or Cancelled? The Waterfront is the latest soapy crime drama on Netflix, armed with a dysfunctional family, a simple premise and an intriguing cast of characters. Having watched the first season in its entirety, you may be wondering if this one has been renewed or cancelled. Well, wonder no more! What is The Waterfront about? The Waterfront is a Southern-set Netflix drama that follows the Buckley family, once rulers of Havenport's fishing industry. After patriarch Harlan Buckley suffers multiple heart attacks, the family business starts to sink. In a desperate bid to stay afloat, Harlan's wife Belle and their son Cane secretly get involved in drug smuggling—drawing the attention of the DEA after a major shipment disappears. As the season progresses, this dynamic takes on a slightly more sinister edge, as Harlan is pulled back into the company and the pair start working with shady characters. We have extended coverage of The Waterfront across the site, including recaps for every episode. You can find those HERE! Has The Waterfront been renewed for Season 2? At the time of writing, The Waterfront has not been renewed for season 2. Generally Netflix would gauge numerous metrics before renewing a show, including how many people initially watch it and then looking at the drop-off rate. With some shows, cancellations or renewals happen quickly. Other times, it can take months before a decision over a show's future is made. So far, Aniela has had a mixed reaction online from critics and audiences alike. Given the way this show is set up, and the ending we receive, we're predicting that this will be renewed for a second season. The series has lots of potential, and we also know that Netflix tend to shine a much more favourable light on soapy dramas like this. Having said that, we do also know that completion rate is a massive metric for these streamers so that could play a pivotal role here. For now, we'll have to wait and see what happens so take our prediction with a pinch of salt! What we know about season 2 so far: Barely anything is known about The Waterfront season 2 at this point given Netflix haven't officially renewed or cancelled this one. Given the first season's conclusion, it does seem likely to get the nod for another season though but we'll have to wait and see. Seeing Cane and Harlan find newfound respect for each other, while Diller and Bree also manage to go from estranged to respecting each other are two of the better moments for the finale. When it comes to Belle though, it seems like she's prepped to be the new leader and it will almost certainly cause friction with Harlan. And what is Peyton planning? She seems way too calm after everything that's taken place with her husband; she could also be planning something too. The final episode does end on a pretty big cliffhanger here so if this is picked up, we can expect another 8 episodes, and perhaps more dramatic mishaps and a new player in the drug game too.. We will update this page when more information becomes available, so be sure to check this page out in the near future. Would you like to see The Waterfront return for a second season? What's been your favourite part of the show? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is The Waterfront a true story? Netflix debuts Dawson's Creek-style show
The Waterfront is Netflix's latest must-binge drama series, following a North Carolina fishing magnate family going to desperate lengths to try to protect their crumbling legacy. Although the Buckley family is fictional, the story is inspired by true events from showrunner Kevin Williamson's childhood. He was also the man behind Dawson's Creek and filmed The Waterfront in the same location as his hit 90s teen series, admitting that both shows draw from his past. Here's all you need to know about what happens, where it was filmed and who stars in it. The eight-part drama follows a winning Netflix format — a glossy drama about a dysfunctional family falling apart under pressure. But for showrunner Williamson, the series isn't just drama by numbers — it represents his own childhood, as a more mature version of some of the autobiography that found its way into Dawson's Creek. For decades, the Buckleys have dominated their coastal town of Havenport, North Carolina, having the monopoly on everything from fishing to restaurants. But when patriarch Harlan suffers two heart attacks, wife Belle and son Cane are thrown in the deep end to try to keep the businesses afloat. Meanwhile, daughter Bree has lost custody of her son following an addiction battle, and a risky new relationship could threaten the entire family's future. The family is fictional, but many of the elements of the show are inspired by Williamson's own family story. His father Wade was a fisherman in North Carolina, but when times became tough for the industry, he was drawn into a desperate scheme to use fishing boats for drugs runs and eventually ended up serving time in prison. It's a plot that may be familiar to Dawson's Creek fans as Joey's (Katie Holmes) father ended up in prison for similar reasons on the teen show, and Williamson has acknowledged that Dawson's Creek was "me growing up in a small town on the creek in North Carolina". He added of how The Waterfront moves the themes on: "It's a little more adult Kevin. It's me looking back on my life growing up. It's reflection, it's nostalgic, it's a little bit of a memory piece. But it's also set in today's world, it's current, and it's a story about a broken family trying to fix themselves and not really knowing how." Williamson, who was also behind the Scream movies, continued: "This is about a working man who's trying to make a go of it for his family. They've pulled themselves up from nothing and they've built this mini fishing empire in their small little town. Now it's being taken away from them bit by bit. They'll do anything to hold onto it, because it represents their family." Dawson's Creek might have finished back in 2003, but Williamson had always kept in mind how he would revisit the story of his own childhood. He told Time magazine: "That was the beginning of me fictionalising it, but I always knew I'd come back to it." "I always told my dad I was going to write the story," he added. "He said, 'Wait until I'm dead.'" Havenport is a fictional town, but it is based heavily on the North Carolina coastal towns from Williamson's upbringing. It filmed in Wilmington and Southport, which was familiar ground to the series creator as an adult, too - they were home to many of his projects, including I Know What You Did Last Summer and Dawson's Creek. "We have the beautiful sailboats, the yachts, and the fishing trawlers," he said. "We have the whole world here. It's the beautiful side of the business, and the commercial side of it." Viewers will see the harbour and local businesses including restaurants, and eagle-eyed Williamson fans may even recognise some locations from his other series and films. He told Time: "I absolutely love North Carolina. Through and through, I'm a Carolina boy. Southport looks very much like how I grew up." Whilst the Buckleys are not Williamson's actual family, there are elements of each character inspired by his nearest and dearest. He said of looking for an actor to play father of the family Harlan: "I had my dad in my head. I was like, 'How do you cast Superman?'" He eventually found his ideal actor in Holt McCallany, who has starred in other Netflix dramas Mindhunter and The Lincoln Lawyer, and can also be seen in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. Williamson said: "Harlan is very imperfect. He has a lot of flaws, but he also has a lot of good qualities. At the end of the day, he really loves his family and is willing to do almost anything to keep them safe and to keep his little family empire going." Harlan's wife Belle is played by A History of Violence star Maria Bello. Williamson said of her character: "A lot of families have that strong matriarch at the center that keeps everything floating. Mine kept everything going. I got to school and graduated college because of the fire she lit under my butt." The Buckleys are completed by recovering addict daughter Bree (Supergirl's Melissa Benoist) who Williamson has said was an exaggeration of the addictive parts of his own personality, and son Cane, who is who he thinks he would have become had he stayed in his hometown. Cane is played by Animal Kingdom star Jake Weary. The extended Buckley family includes Danielle Campbell as Cane's wife Peyton and Brady Hepner as Bree's son Diller. A supporting cast of locals includes Topher Grace as Buckley family nemesis Grady. The Waterfront is streaming now on Netflix.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Has The Waterfront Season 2 Been Renewed or Canceled?
The Waterfront revolves around the Buckley family and their domination of Havenport, North Carolina, encompassing the fishing industry and the restaurant business. However, the fishing empire begins to crumble, and the patriarch Harlin tries his best to keep it afloat. Following the show's premiere, fans have become increasingly curious about its future. So, is The Waterfront canceled or renewed for a Season 2? Here is everything you need to know about the future of the crime drama series. As of now, The Waterfront Season 2 has neither been renewed nor canceled by Netflix. Season 1 premiered on June 19, 2025. It has a total of 8 episodes. Fans were looking forward to extra episodes due to Netflix's somewhat newer strategy of releasing its shows' seasons in parts. The streaming giant followed this pattern with numerous shows, including Bridgerton, Emily in Paris, Outer Banks, and Beauty in Black, among others. The upcoming season of Stranger Things is also scheduled to release in three parts. However, The Waterfront is following Netflix's regular strategy of releasing all its episodes at once on the scheduled date. Additionally, there is a curiosity regarding the show's future. It is yet to be renewed for a second installment, and it hasn't been canceled either. The Waterfront's potential next season announcement might take some time, as the show has just premiered. Based on its critical reception and viewership, Netflix is likely to decide on a renewal later this year. Crime dramas tend to do well in terms of viewership if they are executed well. Furthermore, The Waterfront's storyline also has the potential to be explored in more installments, with new challenges and drama surrounding the Buckley family. The Waterfront's cast features Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, and Melissa Benoist, among others. The post Has The Waterfront Season 2 Been Renewed or Canceled? appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
