11 stories about new and returning NC-filmed television shows this year
The articles all focus on TV series and documentaries filmed in North Carolina set to headline or recently released in 2025. These shows highlight new and returning series that draw from North Carolina landscapes and stories, with several productions featuring the state's coast, local campuses and communities.
One example is “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” which films on the coast and on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. The third and final season includes scenes set at "Finch College," which is actually UNC. Fans can take tours of the filming sites in Chapel Hill, walking through places used in the show.
Another series, “The Waterfront,” uses Wilmington and Southport to portray its fictional town. The drama follows a family fighting to save their fishing business. The show is inspired by the creator’s own experiences growing up as the son of a fisherman in North Carolina. The series features local restaurants and marinas as key locations. Despite these real roots and local color, “The Waterfront” was canceled after its first season.
A new documentary, “Earnhardt,” covers the story of Dale Earnhardt, the late NASCAR legend from North Carolina. This series uses rare archival footage and interviews to recount his career, family life and lasting impact on racing.
Together, these shows anchor North Carolina as a key filming location and storytelling backdrop for 2025 television.
NO. 1: ‘THE WATERFRONT,’ A NEW DRAMA FILMED & SET IN NC, DEBUTS SOON ON NETFLIX
The new show follows a North Carolina family’s fishing empire. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 2: WATCH THE TRAILER FOR SEASON 3 OF ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY,’ FILMED IN NC
Cousins beach is calling. Here’s a first look at the third and final season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 3: SEE THE TRAILER FOR ‘EARNHARDT,’ NEW NC NASCAR SERIES STREAMING SOON
“The Intimidator” won 76 NASCAR Cup series throughout his career, including seven Daytona 500s. His death still echoes throughout the sport. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska
NO. 4: WATCH THE TRAILER FOR NETFLIX’S ‘THE WATERFRONT,’ FILMED AND SET IN NC
Here’s a first look at the star-studded upcoming series about a North Carolina family’s fishing empire. | Published May 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 5: ‘THE WATERFRONT’ STAR SHARES BEHIND-THE-SCENES SECRETS OF NC DRAMA ON NETFLIX
From the cast’s favorite spots to story line theories for a second season, here’s what one of “The Waterfront” stars had to say about the show. | Published June 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 6: WHERE WAS NETFLIX’S ‘THE WATERFRONT’ FILMED? HERE’S A LIST OF NC LOCATIONS
Here’s a list of spots you might recognize in “The Waterfront,” the new North Carolina-filmed series on Netflix. | Published June 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 7: ‘THE WATERFRONT’ CREATOR REVEALS TRUE STORY BEHIND NC DRAMA SERIES ON NETFLIX
Here’s how accurate the drama filmed in and around Wilmington is. | Published June 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 8: IS FINCH COLLEGE IN ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY’ A REAL PLACE?
The 11-episode season is streaming exclusively on Prime Video with new episodes releasing weekly. | Published July 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 9: NETFLIX’S NC DRAMA ‘THE WATERFRONT’ CANCELED AFTER FIRST SEASON. WHAT WE KNOW
The tides are turning for one of Netflix’s newest dramas filmed in North Carolina. | Published August 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
NO. 10: NEW ‘THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY’ TOUR BRINGS FANS TO NC FILMING SITES. HOW TO GO
“The Summer I Turned Pretty?’” Now, it’s the summer, UNC is offering you a behind-the-scenes look at the hit drama series filmed on campus. | Published August 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.