'The Waterfront': The Real Story Behind Netflix's Latest Dark Crime Thriller Family Drama

Elle

19-06-2025

There's something about a TV series that sees a family struggle to maintain their dominance as their empire begins to crumble that we can't quite get enough of. And Netflix's latest series The Waterfront on June 19 is all about this.
Said to be a blend of Succession, Outer Banks and Ozark, the eight part series follows the Buckley family living in the fictional coastal city of Haventown, North Carolina. After becoming a prominent family in the region following their success in operating fishing and restaurant businesses, they take drastic measures to stay afloat when hardship strikes.
To find out all that there is to know about the real story behind the series, keep reading below.
The official logline is as follows: '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 (Holt McCallany) recovers from two heart attacks, and his wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) venture into the deep end to keep the family businesses afloat.'
'As their attempts spiral out of control and into treacherous waters, Harlan steps back in to take command. Facing her own demons, Buckley daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist) — an addict in recovery who's lost custody of her son Diller (Brady Hepner) — finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship that could threaten the family's future forever.'
Kevin Williamson calls The Waterfront his most personal story yet, the writer and creator of the series drew directly from his own upbringing and family's past. 'I come from a long line of fishermen,' he told Tudum.
Further into the interview, he revealed that due to the fishing industry's collapse in the 1980s, his father was forced into making desperate and illegal choices. 'The fishing industry sort of upturned… my dad couldn't feed his family. So, someone came along and said, "Hey, if you do this one thing, you can make all this money." And it was hard to say no to.'
His father became a drug runner, transporting them on his boat. 'My dad — a very, very good man — got tempted to do some things that weren't so legal… it put food on the table, helped me go to college.'
As for the family dynamics seen in The Waterfront, many of the characteristics of his family members echo throughout the Buckley family. 'I had my dad in my head,' Williamson said of the character Harlan Buckley.
Belle Buckley, the matriarch of the family is based on his actual mother, William revealed. 'Mine kept everything going. I got to school and graduated college because of the fire she lit under my butt.'
ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.