Every drama enthusiast needs to see The Waterfront (here is when)

Kevin Williamson might be one of the more experienced TV and film producers. He has been involved in so many that it is hard to count them, with the Scream series, Vampire Diaries, and Dawson's Creek possibly standing out.

Now, Williamson (who also wrote the series), Netflix, and all involved in producing the new drama series The Waterfront are set to captivate audiences again. The 8-episode series, based on real events, will premiere on Netflix on June 19, 2025.

The story, which is set in the coastal part of North Carolina (where the filming took place), is a new take on a dysfunctional family, where the fictional Buckley family is in strife over its legacy. With the first two episodes directed by Marcos Siega (You, Dexter: New Blood), the strong cast stars Holt McCallany (The Iron Claw, Mindhunter) and Maria Bello (BEEF, A History of Violence).

Other key roles are played by Melissa Benoist (The Girls on the Bus, Supergirl) and Jake Weary (Oh, Canada, Neon’s How to Blow Up a Pipeline), along with Rafael L. Silva, Humberly González, Danielle Campbell, Brady Hepner, and guest star Topher Grace.

What is the plot of The Waterfront about?

Fictional Havenport, North Carolina’s strongest features are its fishing and restaurant businesses. Both of those have for decades been dominated by the Buckley family. But after the key family figure Harlan Buckley (McCallany) suffers two heart attacks, their empires start to crumble, and he, his wife Belle (Bello), and son Cane (Weary) start making some shady dealings, hoping to shore things up.

Yet, that is not where the family complications end. Buckley’s daughter Bree (Benoist) is a recovering addict who has lost custody of her son and is in an even more complicated relationship that could have even more dire consequences for the family. To steer the family ship in the right direction again, Harlan has to take the helm in his hands again.

The Waterfront cast in more detail

• Holt McCallany plays Harlan Buckley, the family powerhouse and Havenport’s key figure who can be both a hero and a villain.
• Maria Bello plays Belle Buckley, Harlan’s wife, who runs the fishery business, daring to go into fishy waters to keep it afloat.
• Jake Weary plays Cane Buckley, the only son in the family. He has a complicated relationship with his father on one hand and his own family (wife and daughter) on the other.
• Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley - the daughter of the family struggling to keep the balance between sobriety and relationship with her son, whose custody she lost.

Other relevant characters in the series are Shawn West (Rafael L. Silva), Jenna Tate (Humberly González), Peyton Buckley (Danielle Campbell), and Diller Hopkins (Brady Hepner).

More Netflix news and reviews: