Now on Netflix: The Waterfront’s Dark Secrets Are Surprisingly Real — And Its Showrunner Just Spilled the Truth 🌊📖
Inspired by real North Carolina fishing conflicts, creator Kevin Williamson says the drama isn’t just fiction—it’s personal.
“Family. Betrayal. The silent struggles behind closed doors”—this coastal crime saga is rooted in truths that hit home.
👇 Discover the real events that shaped the Buckley dynasty… and why you’ll feel it long after the credits roll.

The Waterfront creator Kevin Williamson has confirmed the Netflix crime drama was inspired by his father’s real-life drug trafficking past. The upcoming streaming crime drama follows the Buckley family as they come across hard times in their fishing business in North Carolina, leading family patriarch Harlan (Holt McCallany) to begin trafficking drugs for extra money. The series was created by Williamson, who’s best known for his work on the Scream franchise, alongside creating crime shows like The Following and Stalker.

Speaking with ScreenRant‘s Ash Crossan about The Waterfront, Williamson revealed the inspiration for the series came from his father’s real-life association with drug trafficking. The show’s creator explained how, in the 1980s, his fisherman father would smuggle drugs to make extra money. He compared his father to Joey Potter’s dad in another show he created, Dawson’s Creek, while also revealing the North Carolina setting of The Waterfront was inspired by his real-world experiences. Check out what Williamson had to say below:

Ash Crossan: What was your North Star for the show? Where was the nexus of this idea?

Kevin Williamson: It came from my dad. I grew up in North Carolina, as you know, in a very, very small town, very much Southport, where we filmed this show. And there was a time — my dad was a fisherman — and there was a time in the ’80s when he did some drug trafficking, was trying to support his family during a really bad time. The fishing season, the fisherman career, had just tanked, and he started smuggling some drugs.

Ash Crossan: That’s SO interesting, wow!

Kevin Williamson: Yeah. I was inspired by my dad, the greatest man who ever lived, and he was trying to put me through college. He was trying to support his family, and he made a decision. And he ultimately was caught, and he paid the price, and he went to prison. Very much like Joey Potter’s dad did.

Ash Crossan: I had no idea about this lore.

Kevin Williamson: Well, it’s like if you watch Dawson’s Creek, Joey Potter’s dad was in prison for conspiracy to traffic marijuana, excessive 20,000 pounds. That was my dad’s charge. Exactly.

Ash Crossan: So your dad’s like a Harlan type.

Kevin Williamson: Yes, yes. It’s well cast.

What Williamson’s Real-World Experiences Mean For The Waterfront

The Show Is Directly Inspired By His Father’s Life

While Williamson’s Scream contributions and many TV show creations have defined his career, it seems like The Waterfront is going to be his most personal story so far. Harlan appears to be based on his father, while the North Carolina and the family fishing business reflect what he did for work in real life. The creator is pulling from his past to create the series, with parallels already clear based on what he said about his dad’s involvement in the drug trade. This personal story means details of the show could be pulled from events that actually happened.

There are some major differences already, though, with Williamson’s dad being charged for trafficking marijuana. While these true events inspired The Waterfront, the Netflix series will be focusing on cocaine and opiate drugs. This change may not be exactly what Williamson’s father was arrested for, but it does signify the series’ dedication to both a realistic portrayal of drug trafficking, and upping the stakes for drama. How much of the show was actually pulled from the creator’s father and his real-world experiences remains to be seen.

Our Take On The Waterfront’s Real-Life Inspiration

Williamson’s Experiences Can Make The Show More Impactful

With plenty about the series that hasn’t been revealed just yet, the realistic inspiration could lead to some interesting storylines that pull from real events. However, it’s unclear if Williamson will be utilizing any specifics about his father’s drug trafficking experience, or if much of the story’s modernization will render some elements unadaptable. With The Waterfront premiering soon, it’s only a matter of time before even more details about the show’s inspiration are revealed.

The Waterfront arrives Thursday, June 19 on Netflix.