Netflix's 'The Waterfront' Cast and Characters, Explained
Dysfunctional families and legacy-related drama have been at the center of many of our binge-watch-worthy obsessions. Think: Succession, Yellowstone, House of the Dragon, Ransom Canyon, etc. This formula's been tried, tested, and true—and we can't seem to get enough of it. So Netflix is keeping it coming by serving viewers another suspenseful series involving money, power, big egos, and bloodshed.
The Waterfront is a show inspired by true events. It follows the fictional Buckley family, who have dominated the coastal town of Havenport, North Carolina for decades. They control everything from the local fisheries to the restaurants. But an imminent threat could ruin their family's future forever. In an attempt to save their family from losing everything they've built, the Buckleys get involved in some shady business, which ultimately ends up dragging the whole clan deeper into the mud. They find themselves in the thick of it, and it becomes difficult to make their way out.
Of course, the only way this story works is with its roster of talented actors. Here are the cast and characters of The Waterfront.
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Forbes
25 minutes ago
- Forbes
‘KPop Demon Hunters' Director On Getting K-Pop Culture Down
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS - (L-R) Mira (voice by MAY HONG), Rumi (voice by ARDEN CHO) and Zoey (voice by ... More JI-YOUNG YOO). ©2025 Netflix South Korea has been dominating the global pop music scene for the past few years with groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, and Stray Kids. There have been multiple projects surrounding K-pop music, including a Broadway musical, documentaries, and several film projects. One of the projects includes Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters, an animated feature centered on a K-pop girl group that also serves as a team of demon hunters sworn to protect their fans from supernatural threats. Things become complicated when a popular rival boy band is revealed to be demons. Director Maggie Kang didn't expect the impact of Korean culture and K-pop, which inspired her to write this film. When she was in elementary school in Canada, her teacher couldn't locate South Korea on the map. Now, her film is set to release on Netflix and has been praised by critics and fans. 'It was surreal,' Kang says. 'Every step of the way and every milestone we hit, I can't believe we're able to do this.' She had been working on this project for over nine years, aiming to create a story that explores Korean demon mythology and lore, starring badass women. The K-pop aspect was always present, but it was the last part that was developed in the story. They had initially planned for the animation to be a lower-budget movie that was a lot grittier and darker than the final product looked. 'Rumi was going to be the black sheep of her family,' Kang explains. 'It still had the themes of shame about their worth, but there was this girl who was kinda a dropout and failure, before discovering her lineage and living up to it, proving her own self-worth within herself. It was a story with ancestors and a little bit more Asian.' Kang was informed that the project had expanded significantly, which altered the story slightly, introducing two additional characters – Mira and Zoey. She found it funny that there were three members in Huntrix, but they created five characters for the Saja Boys. 'At first, Sony was like 'Can [Rumi] just be a solo artist?',' says Kang. 'I was like, no, she needs to be part of a group.' KPOP DEMON HUNTERS - When they aren't selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use ... More their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise. ©2025 Netflix When creating a K-pop group, there's a lot to be included in the story, especially the fandom: terminology, lightsticks, photocards, shipping, fan signs, variety shows, comebacks, and more. The screenplay, written by Kang, co-director Chris Appelhans, Hannah McMechan, and Danya Jimenez (with assistance from K-pop fans and writers Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt), perfectly captured the fan culture. Kang says it was a group effort in creating this story and the culture surrounding it. She credits McMechan and Jimenez for their research on the K-pop culture aspect, and even became K-pop fans themselves. 'They became K-pop fans because of this movie,' Kang explains. 'As they were doing research, they became total stans of K-pop – to the point that they would be up at three in the morning to refresh to watch music videos and then vote on stuff.' She says they became her K-pop experts. Anytime she had a question, she would text them for the answer. She says, 'It felt like a second job to be updated on all the K-pop things. As production rolled through, Kang just ran out of time to learn about K-pop culture. So, she depended on them for the knowledge. KPOP DEMON HUNTERS - When they aren't selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use ... More their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. 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More their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise. ©2025 Netflix When it came to the K-pop music aspect, their team collaborated with THEBLACKLABEL, owned by the legendary producer Teddy Park, who has worked with K-pop's biggest names, including BIGBANG, G-DRAGON, BLACKPINK, and 2NE1. Adding to the K-pop connections, the film secured the popular K-pop girl group, TWICE, to sing the main title song, 'Takedown.' Kang and Appelhans were initially naive about how much of the music would be featured in the movie. They discussed it being a non-traditional musical, which meant that there wouldn't be a lot of singing involved in the storytelling. Things changed, and the music became an integral part of the story. 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Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise. ©2025 Netflix Although everything seemed to fit into the K-pop world, one thing was missing: a fandom name. Kang reveals the Saja Boys fans are called the Pride, but never came up with one for Huntrix. Kang says, 'We will leave it up to the fans.' KPop Demon Hunters premieres tomorrow, Friday, June 20, on Netflix.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Meghan Markle admits she sometimes misses acting after quitting for royal life
Meghan Markle reflected on how she feels now about leaving her Hollywood career behind for royal life. The 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex, who made her on-screen debut in a 2002 episode of the soap opera "General Hospital" and rose to fame when she starred in the hit USA Network legal drama "Suits," confirmed that she would be retiring from acting hours after she announced her engagement to Prince Harry in November 2017. She officially became a member of the royal family when she married Harry in May 2018. In January 2020, they stepped down from their roles as working royals before moving to Canada and eventually settling in Montecito, California. During a recent appearance on the "Aspire with Emma Grede" podcast, Grede asked Markle if she ever missed her former profession. "Sometimes, sometimes," Markle said. However, she explained that starring in her Netflix lifestyle show "With Love, Meghan" had helped fill the void. "With Love, Meghan" premiered in March and the show will return for a second season in the fall. MEGHAN MARKLE GIVES RARE GLIMPSE OF PRINCESS LILIBET IN BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE, BREAKS PATTERN OF PRIVACY "Actually, having a large team, being back on set with 'With Love, Meghan' was great because I realized how much I had missed my crew," Markle told Grede. "I love being around a crew." Markle joined "Suits" in 2011 and was one of the show's original cast members. She played Rachel Zane, a paralegal who eventually becomes a lawyer, for seven seasons. While speaking with Grede, Markle recalled how she wasn't able to say her goodbyes when she left "Suits" due to the need to keep her exit under wraps. "We couldn't say I was leaving necessarily. It was speculated," she said. "So, after seven years on the series, we couldn't have a going away party. I couldn't say my goodbyes." One day after Markle and Harry's engagement was announced, the USA Network confirmed her departure from the series. Markle made her final appearance on the show in the seventh season finale in 2018. Markle reiterated that she still misses the crew she worked with during her time on "Suits." "We work with people for seven years," she said. "For seven years, that's a really strong connection. And I loved the crew. So I think for me, having the [Netflix] series even though it wasn't scripted, was really great to get that piece back, but then also building my own business. You have a team, and that's really what I was craving as well." During her interview with Grede, Markle recalled that she struggled to land roles early in her acting career and attributed her difficulties with getting hired to her multiracial heritage. The actress's father, Thomas Markle, is White, while her mother, Doria Ragland, is Black. "When I was an auditioning actress and this was well before 'Suits,' you have to think at that time there were certainly not a lot of mixed race parts," Markle told Grede. "Really?" Grede asked. 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"If I'm only up for 10 parts, that could be 10 nos, but if I'm up for 30 parts because I can fit into so many different rooms, that could be 30 nos. That is a lot to chip away at your self-esteem. That is really hard." Markle explained the rejection that she faced while trying to make it in the entertainment industry took a toll on her self-confidence. "I went through my chapter of self-doubt as an auditioning actor and beyond that," she said. "When you're so consumed with what everyone around you thinks of you, that can be a really hard way to live." The actress shared that after entering her 40s and becoming a mother, it was important to her that she set a positive example for her children and how they are "going to think about themselves." Markle shares son Prince Archie, 6, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 3, with her husband Prince Harry, 40. "And that, you can't have an imposter syndrome around. No way," she emphasized. "You have to be so authentically the role model and the example of confidence, self-forgiveness, kindness, fun — all of those things and ou can't fake that. 'You want to model that for them, so all of that really shifted in the past six years of becoming a mom for me," Markle added. After making her TV debut in "General Hospital," Markle made guest appearances in shows including "The War at Home," "CSI: NY," "90210," "'Til Death" "Knight Rider," "Fringe," "Without a Trace" and "CSI: Miami." From 2006 to 2007, Markle appeared as a "briefcase girl" on the game show "Deal or No Deal." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The California native also took on small parts in movies including "Horrible Bosses," "Remember Me" and "Get Him to the Greek" before landing one of the leading roles in "Suits" Markle appeared on the podcast while promoting her lifestyle brand "As Ever." The actress launched the brand, which was originally named American Rivera Orchard, in March 2024. She renamed the company "As Ever" in February 2025. While appearing on the podcast, Markle weighed in on whether her experience with acting helped her in her role in her latest endeavor. "Do you think that there are any skills that you got from your days as an actress that are transferable into this new entrepreneurial world that you're in," Grede asked. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Of course," Markle replied. "I mean, again, having a thick skin. Partnerships and the value of having great relationships when what you when you're building certainly lots of different SKUs [Stock Keeping Units] is key." "And so a piece of advice I was given years ago as an auditioning actress was don't try to book the part, book the room," she continued. "Meaning it doesn't matter if you don't get that role, you might not be right for it, you might remind the director of an ex-girlfriend that broke his heart." 'It could be any number of reasons — it's not about the part," Markle added. "You're going to see those producers and those casting directors at so many other opportunities. Book the room, let them see that you're talented. Let them see you have something to bring to the table." "Treat them with kindness, all of those relationships end up coming to fruition — you don't know when. But just like with life, relationships matter. So I learned that in the very long road of auditioning, for sure." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
WWE Officials Pushing For Career-Changing LA Knight Decision
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new report suggests that a major brand switch could be on the horizon for LA Knight. There is reportedly a significant backstage push to move the popular superstar from SmackDown to Monday Night Raw. This comes after a period of booking that has left some fans disappointed. A move to Raw could signal a fresh start for "The Megastar." Backstage Push And Netflix Influence On LA Knight According to a report from WrestleVotes, multiple individuals within WWE are advocating for LA Knight to be moved to the Raw brand. The move is seen as a way to present a refreshing change for the character. The report also suggested that WWE's streaming partner, Netflix, has direct input on programming. It is believed that the platform hopes a star with Knight's massive popularity can "move the needle" for Raw's global audience. Testing The Waters On Raw For LA Knight WWE may already be "testing the waters" for this brand switch. Knight has appeared on the last two episodes of Raw despite officially being a SmackDown superstar. US pro-wrestler and actor Shaun Edward Ricker aka LA Knight attends Netflix's "WWE Monday Night RAW" premiere at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on January 6, 2025. US pro-wrestler and actor Shaun Edward Ricker aka LA Knight attends Netflix's "WWE Monday Night RAW" premiere at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on January 6, 2025. Michael Tran / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images His appearances have seen him directly antagonize the new faction led by Seth Rollins. He helped Sami Zayn defeat Bron Breakker last week and assisted Jey Uso this week by taking out Bronson Reed during another King of the Ring match. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation LA Knight Sends A Message To Seth Rollins Following his latest appearance on Raw, LA Knight has made his intentions clear on social media. He posted a video taunting the members of Rollins' group that he has already neutralized. "Well, I guess if I ain't going to the King of the Ring then neither are either of the Brons. We got Bron squared over there, but I tell you what we took down what, three last week? I got this one, I got that one and we got one left [shows middle finger] yeah!" The combination of the backstage report and his very visible new feud strongly indicates that a permanent move to Raw is imminent. This would also give Knight a new career look and a fresh coat of paint for him after spending his entire main roster career on SmackDown. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
