The Waterfront trailer isn't a peaceful fishing excursion

Netflix hooked the new Kevin Williamson drama, which premieres this June.

By Emma Keates | May 22, 2025 | 11:00am

Photo: Netflix

TV News The Waterfront

The Waterfront trailer isn't a peaceful fishing excursion

Kevin Williamson took his boat up Dawson’s Creek all the way to The Waterfront. The prolific screenwriter and showrunner clearly has a thing for water-based titles. He also loves some juicy network drama, which he’s bringing to The Waterfront in spades.

The Waterfront is about fishing, but don’t be fooled—this isn’t a Ron Swanson-approved, relaxing day on the water. The Netflix show’s new trailer starts with a punch in the face (literally), and features a couple more knockouts throughout. When the Buckley family—the down-on-their-luck lords of Havenport, North Carolina’s fishing empire—aren’t fighting each other physically, they’re sparring with their words. They’re also fighting the DEA, after declining patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) attempts to smuggle $10 million worth of cocaine and opiates. Maybe they should have stuck to fishing.

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The Waterfront was apparently based on “true events,” although Netflix fails to specify what exactly those events were. The series’ official synopsis reads 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 (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—finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship that could threaten the family’s future forever… The twisty drama plays out over eight episodes that are as much about family dynamics as they are about the lengths people will go to when their legacy is on the line.

In addition to Dawson’s Creek, Williamson also launched the Scream franchise, The Vampire Diaries, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and many more. He’s also on board to direct the upcoming Scream 7. Of this series, he told Tudum: “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… Sometimes they keep making worse mistakes and sometimes they find their way out and do the good thing.”

The Waterfront premieres June 19 on Netflix.