‘The Waterfront,’ a new drama filmed & set in NC, debuts soon on Netflix
If you’re a sucker for a good drama, a new Carolina crime series is hitting Netflix soon.
“The Waterfront,” inspired by true events filmed along the North Carolina coast, is about a family “stirring up some troubled waters” to uphold their legacy in their local fishing industry.
The full series will drop on Thursday, June 19.
Is ‘The Waterfront’ a true story?
“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,” creator Kevin Williamson told Netflix Tudum. “Now it’s being taken away from them bit by bit. They’ll do anything to hold onto it, because it represents their family.”
The show is inspired by a true story, Netflix says, but has not shared which exactly.
‘The Waterfront’ cast
Starring Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Jake Weary and Melissa Benoist, the series follows the story of the Buckleys “trying to find the lesser evil in a treacherous situation” as their fishing empire and family’s future struggle to stay afloat, according to Netflix.
“It’s just about a bunch of people who make mistakes. They do some bad things and then they get in deeper and deeper and deeper,” Williamson reportedly said. “Sometimes they keep making worse mistakes and sometimes they find their way out and do the good thing.”
‘The Waterfront’ NC filming locations
According to the North Carolina film office website, season one of the series was filmed last December. Set in the fictional town of Havenport, the show was produced around Wilmington and Southport — a full circle moment for Williamson, where he filmed in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Dawson’s Creek.”
In the spotlight, you may even see several fan-favorite restaurants including Fishy Fishy Café, Morningstar Marina, and Potter’s Seafood, according to City of Southport officials.
“We have the beautiful sailboats, the yachts, and the fishing trawlers,” Williamson said. “We have the whole world here. It’s the beautiful side of the business, and the commercial side of it.”
When is ‘The Waterfront’ coming to Netflix?
The full eight-episode drama series will be available to stream beginning Thursday, June 19 on Netflix.
This story was originally published April 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM.
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