Netflix’s family crime drama seriesThe Waterfronttakes place in a specific region of North Carolina in the fictional town of Havenport. Developed by Kevin Williamson, the writer of the originalScreammovie and creator ofDawson’s Creek,The Waterfrontis asurprisingly true story based on details of Williamson’s upbringingin North Carolina. Led by Holt McCallany as the patriarch of the Buckley family, thecast ofThe Waterfrontalso includes Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary, Maria Bello, Rafael L. Silva, Danielle Campbell, and Humberly González, with guest starTopher Grace as the drug supplier antagonist Grady.
McCallany’s Harlan Buckley tries to keep his family financially afloat through his fishing and restaurant businesses, but must take drastic measures to smuggle drugs, particularly heroin, to get by. Harlan’s son, the golden boy Cane (played by Weary), always puts his family first and does whatever his father needs to help their situation. Cane’s sister Bree (played by Benoist), somewhat ironically, has an addiction of her own to alcohol and has a dark backstory that led to her losing custody of her son, Brady Hepner’s Diller. All this drama and more takes place in thescenic coastal town of Havenport, which is based on several areas in North Carolina.
Havenport Is A Fictional North Carolina Town Used As The Setting For Netflix’s The Waterfront
Havenport Is Largely Influenced By Wilmington & Southport, North Carolina
Although Havenport is a fictional town, it was filmed in Wilmington and Southport, North Carolina, and shares many of the cultural landscapes and sensibilities of the region. Williamson was born in New Bern, North Carolina, and attended high school and college in the state, graduating from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Because of his familiarity and personal history with the area,Williamson knew from the start where a story likeThe Waterfrontwould take place. Williamson revealed to Screen Rant’s Ash Crosnan, “I grew up in North Carolina, as you know, in a very, very small town, very much Southport, where we filmed this show.”
The Waterfrontextends a distinct and intentional location theme in Williamson’s TV shows. Even thoughDawson’s Creek, Williamson’s first big TV hit, was set in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, it was actually filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina, as well as beachside areas including Southport. Williamson’s hit 1990s horror movie,I Know What You Did Last Summer, also takes place in Southport, NC. It’s no coincidence, or surprise, knowing Williamson’s filmography, that he wanted to return to the Southport region forThe Waterfront, which is arguably his most location-dependent series of his career.
The Waterfront Was Filmed In Several North Carolina Locations
Havenport In The Waterfront Was Inspired By Williamson’s Life & Family
While not all of Williamson’s projects are shot in and around Wilmington and Southport, North Carolina, there is undoubtedly a trend over his 30+ year career. The link betweenDawson’s CreekandThe Waterfrontis most apparent, sinceboth consist of autobiographical elements of Williamson’s own life and childhood, especially concerning his father, whom he calls “the greatest man who ever lived”. Williamson elaborated in his interview with SR, “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 link betweenDawson’s CreekandThe Waterfrontis most apparent, since both consist of autobiographical elements of Williamson’s own life and childhood.
Williamson explained that the fate of Joey Porter’s father inDawson’s Creekwas directly inspired bythe prison sentence that was given to his father for drug trafficking. “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.” Williamson confirmed that his father was very similar to Harlan in that he would go around the law to make ends meet for his family. This tracks, considering Harlan’s relentless determination throughoutThe Waterfront.Harlan and his Buckley family prove that even in a coastal haven like Havenport, there can always be trouble in paradise.
