The Waterfront: A Fictionalized Memoir of a Fishing Empire

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The new Netflix series titled “The Waterfront” features Holt McCallany from “Mindhunter” and Maria Bello of “Beef”. This drama revolves around the Buckley family, who manage a struggling fishing business in Havenport, North Carolina, with their deteriorating empire as the central theme.

The show, or series, was developed by Kevin Williamson, a renowned creator with a history in horror films like the Scream franchise, and television productions such as Dawson’s Creek and The Vampire Diaries.

Is the show inspired by real events or purely imaginative, and what insights have Williamson shared regarding the sources that fueled the intricate plot development?

Read on for everything you need to know about The Waterfront.

Is The Waterfront based on a true story?

The series draws significant inspiration from the life experiences of its creator, Kevin Williamson, during his youth.

Williamson refers to the series as a “remembrance collection,” though the characters, while inspired by significant individuals from his personal life, are essentially works of fiction.

Instead of depicting Williamson’s past, this series is based on the contemporary era. While he labels it as entirely fictional, the characters and story elements are inspired by his personal recollections.

What has Kevin Williamson said about his inspiration for The Waterfront?

As a fervent admirer, I’d like to highlight that Williamson consistently weaves his personal experiences into his works. For instance, Dawson’s Creek, a show close to my heart, was crafted from his own upbringing in a quaint town nestled by a creek in North Carolina. Similarly, the captivating world of The Vampire Diaries was ignited by his childhood fascination with Dark Shadows.

He shared with Tudum about the upcoming series: “This new project is a more mature version of Kevin, as I reflect on my childhood experiences. It’s filled with reminiscence and nostalgia, but it’s also a collection of memories. Yet, it’s set in the present day, making it contemporary. The story revolves around a family struggling to mend their broken relationships and finding their way forward.

Williamson additionally mentioned that the character Harlan, portrayed by Holt McCallany, was inspired by his own father. In his words: “I had my father in my thoughts as I wrote. When it came to casting Superman, what I discovered in Holt was his affinity with the character.

He’s somewhat enigmatic, displaying either a rough and resilient demeanor or a sensitive and open personality. These contrasting traits are captivating to me.

Meanwhile, Maria Bello’s character Belle is inspired by Williamson’s mother.

He mentioned that many households have a powerful, central figure who maintains harmony – often a matriarch. In my family, such a person was instrumental in keeping us functioning. It was her determination that fueled me to attend school and eventually graduate from college.

Williamson elaborated on the connection between the series and his personal life during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

In the 1980s, he shared that his father encountered difficulties. He was a fisherman who unfortunately became entangled with individuals who proposed paying him to transport illicit substances using his fishing vessel.

In those days, significant transformations were underway, leading to a decline in the fishing industry across America, particularly on the Eastern coast. This unfortunate event befallen a man who, despite being generally good, had made some poor decisions. Consequently, he served time in prison, which coincided with my years in college.

Williamson shared that his father instructed him to “Wait until I’m gone,” and suggested casting Kevin Costner. In response, he stated, “I managed to fulfill half of it.

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2025-06-19 10:34