For fans of good old-fashioned dysfunctional families, a fresh drama is stirring up some troubled waters on Netflix now. 

Written and executive produced by Kevin Williamson (Scream, Dawson’s Creek), The Waterfront is a drama series about the fictional Buckley family, starring Holt McCallany (The Iron Claw, Mindhunter) and Maria Bello (BEEF, A History of Violence). It also features 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. 

Inspired by true events and set against the backdrop of coastal North Carolina, The Waterfront explores family dynamics and the lengths people will go to when their legacy is on the line. “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 Williamson tells 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.” You can watch as the Buckleys try to hold on in the chaos-filled trailer here. 

So just how far will the Buckley go when the sharks start circling? Keep reading below to find out everything you need to know about this series, including The Waterfront’s plot, release date, and first photos.  

What is The Waterfront about?

For decades, the Buckley family has ruled Havenport, North Carolina, dominating everything from the local fishing industry to the town’s restaurant scene. But their fishing empire has started to crumble as patriarch Harlan Buckley (McCallany) recovers from two heart attacks, and his wife Belle (Bello) and son Cane (Weary) venture into the deep end to keep the family businesses afloat. 

As the Buckleys wade into dangerous waters, daughter Bree (Benoist) — a woman in addiction recovery, who’s lost custody of her son — finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship that could threaten the family’s future. In an attempt to right the Buckley ship, Harlan steps back in to take command of the family empire before it crumbles.

Creator Williamson says the series is ultimately about trying to find the “lesser evil” in a treacherous situation. “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,” he says. “Sometimes they keep making worse mistakes, and sometimes they find their way out and do the good thing.” 

Tune in now to see how all of these choices unfold for the Buckleys.   

What’s The Waterfront release date? 

All eight episodes of The Waterfront washed ashore on June 19. 

Dana Hawley

Dana Hawley

Who is in the cast of The Waterfront?

The Waterfront’s cast includes:

• Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley: Is Harlan a hero? A villain? It’s a hard call. He’s a man who loves his whiskey and worked with his dad to build up the Buckley fishery in the ’80s — sometimes veering into illegal territory. Since having two heart attacks, Harlan hasn’t changed much when it comes to his personal life, but his departure from the family business means that it’s now in the hands of his wife, Belle, and his son, Cane.
• Maria Bello as Belle Buckley: A complex woman who is running the fishery in very questionable ways while trying to save the family. Between Belle and Cane’s desperation and foolish decision-making, Harlan is left with no choice but to take the reins once again.
• Jake Weary as Cane Buckley: Cane is Harlan Buckley’s only son, and the two have a complicated relationship. But Cane never stops trying to do the right thing by his dad and also can’t seem to say no to him. Married to Peyton with whom he shares a young daughter, Cane likes the money his family business affords him — a Band-Aid for the life he got, instead of the life he wanted.
• Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley: The intelligent and hot-tempered Buckley daughter who formerly oversaw the fishery’s finances and, like her father, has allowed alcohol to ruin her bright future. After losing custody of her son, Bree struggles to maintain a relationship with him while maintaining her sobriety.
• Rafael L. Silva as Shawn West: A newly employed bartender for the Buckleys, Shawn is intrigued by the family and carries a secret that could upend them forever.
• Humberly González as Jenna Tate: Jenna is a journalist who leaves the city to tend to her ailing father. Returning to her hometown, she’s confronted with past relationships, including her high school sweetheart, Cane, who still holds a flame for her.
• Danielle Campbell as Peyton Buckley: A proper Southern woman, Peyton is built to sparkle. The wife of Cane and mother of their 8-year-old, she loves Cane and understands his complex relationship with his dad.
• Brady Hepner as Diller Hopkins: Diller is Bree’s son, who now lives with her ex-husband. Having an alcoholic mother hasn’t been easy on Diller, and it’s made him a resentful teenager. Although Bree is looking to mend their relationship, Diller treats her with hostility and turns to his grandfather Harlan, whom he idolizes. 

Gerardo Celasco and Michael Gaston recur as DEA Agent Marcus Sanchez and Sheriff Clyde Porter, respectively. Williamson’s former The Vampire Diaries collaborator Zach Roerig guest stars as Troy. Topher Grace and Dave Annable also appear. 

Dana Hawley

What songs are on The Waterfront soundtrack?

Yes, check it out broken down by episode right here:

Episode 1 “Almost Okay”

KALEO “No Good”    
Ryan Bingham “Devil Stole My Style”    
Tammy Wynette “Good Lovin’ (Makes It Right)”
Ben Chapman “Star of Monterey”
Sterling Elza “Heaven Hill”
Ben Chapman “Don’t You Dare”

Episode 2 “Taking Control”

Brent Cobb “Down in the Gulley”    
Rosali “Rewind”
Peter Frampton Band “I’m a King Bee”    
The Allman Brothers Band “Black Hearted Woman”   

Episode 3 “Playing with Fire”

Bella White “Numbers”    
Seals & Crofts “Summer Breeze”    
England Dan & John Ford Coley “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” 
Gordon Broad “Moonstroke”    
Chris Stapleton “Tennessee Whiskey”
John Fullbright “Moving”
Marshall Tucker Band “Can’t You See”    

Episode 4 “You Can’t Trust a Buckley”

Rodney Atkins “True South”
KALEO “Broken Bones”    
Stephen Wilson Jr. “Hang in There”    
The Cave Singers “Black Leaf”

Episode 5 “I’m a Hugger”        

The Record Company “Gotta Be Movin’ ”   
Gary Clark Jr. “Don’t Owe You a Thang”
Lee Ann Womack  “All the Trouble”    
Caitlin Rose “Own Side”    

 Episode 6 “Hunting Season”

Myron Elkins “Nashville Money”    
Blackjack Billy “4 x 4 Play”    
Shaya Zamora “Sinner”    
Corrosion of Conformity “Albatross”

Episode 7 “Nice Try”

Channing Wilson “Dead Man Walking”
Bella White “The Way I Oughta Go”
Tanner Usrey “Echo In the Holler”
Stephen Wilson Jr. “Dig a Hole” (unreleased)    

Episode 8 “Lost at Sea”

Looking Glass “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)”    
Gerry Rafferty “Right Down the Line”    
Laura Jean Anderson “Burgundy”
Larkin Poe “Deep Stays Down”    
 

Can I listen to The Waterfront official playlist?

Yes! Hit play below to chill to the sounds of the drama series.

Can I see any photos of The Waterfront? 

Welcome to Havenport. The first photos of The Waterfront give a peek at the Buckley’s fishing empire and tense family dynamics, including glimpses of Harlan, Belle, Cane, Peyton, Bree, and Shawn. Everyone looks very concerned about whatever’s approaching from the horizon.  

“We have the beautiful sailboats, the yachts, and the fishing trawlers,” Williamson says. “We have the whole world here. It’s the beautiful side of the business, and the commercial side of it.” 

Dana Hawley

Where was The Waterfront filmed? 

The series was filmed in North Carolina. Although Havenport is fictional, The Waterfront was produced around Wilmington and Southport, which have been home to many Williamson projects, including I Know What You Did Last Summer and Dawson's Creek. “I love North Carolina; I would shoot everything here if I could,” Williamson tells Tudum. “It’s gorgeous, people come here because it’s just such a coastal destination.”

Dana Hawley/Netflix

Who is behind The Waterfront? 

Williamson is best known for writing horror classics like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. He also created the beloved teen drama Dawson’s Creek and co-created the supernatural hit The Vampire Diaries.

Joining Williamson behind the scenes is Marcos Siega (You, Dexter: New Blood), who directed the first two episodes and serves as executive producer of the pilot, and Ben Fast, who executive produces for Outerbanks Entertainment. The series comes from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Watch The Waterfront now. Additional reporting by Christopher Hudspeth.

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