"The Waterfront" Trailer: Holt McCallany Stars as a Patriarch on the Edge in Netflix’s New Crime Series from 'Scream Creator' Kevin Williamson
McCallany plays a patriarch struggling to save his family's empire, teaming up with drug runners in this new Netflix series with Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary and Topher Grace.
It’s Holt McCallany appreciation time!
Now, we’re sure many would agree that there are some working actors out there who never get the credit they deserve but consistently deliver reliable, astonishing performances every time they hit the screen. We count Holt McCallany among those character actors who come to a project and simply make it better with their talents and onscreen presence. It’s not that we wouldn't watch Holt McCallany read a phone book, but we know he will bring a certain level of pathos and sincerity once he gets to read the names under the B's. It's almost like McCallany is cut from another type of cloth, carrying the tradition of guys like Lee Marvin, James Coburn, and Jason Robards. You know, actors who come off as if they're weighted by a life of hard living and tough experiences, yet still exude a quiet strength and wisdom with every role they take on. McCallany is that dude.
Since watching him in a small but memorable part in Fight Club (he's the guy who kicked off the Robert Paulson chant), we knew McCallany had an undeniable presence. He would appear in a couple of things here and there over the years (noteworthy works include his starring stint in the boxing drama series Lights Out and his turn as a menacing brotherhood leader in the prison thriller Shot Caller), but it really wasn't until he played special agent Bill Tench in the highly binge-worthy David Fincher-produced FBI profiler thriller series Mindhunter where McCallany seemed to shift into a new gear. Running for only two seasons, Mindhunter was a criminally underrated Netflix show that deserved, at the very least, one more season to tie up some loose ends. Nevertheless, McCallany really seemed to benefit from it as his career took off like never before. Most notably, he got to star in the acclaimed wrestling drama The Iron Claw. McCallany played Fritz Von Erich, the pigheaded patriarch of the tragic Von Erich family, whose grip over his sons' lives and future was as crushing as his infamous wrestling move for which the film gets its name. In that role, McCallany showed a depth of menace that was both subtle and staggering, adding layers to his character that made him both terrifying, yet tragically human. Now, this upcoming weekend he's going up against Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt as the U.S. Secretary of Defense in the latest Mission: Impossible movie, The Final Reckoning.
So, yes... you can count us as part of the McCallany fan club. And there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t wish Netflix had gotten its act together and greenlit a new season of Mindhunter. At least we're happy that the streaming giant had the good sense to keep McCallany on payroll as he stars in this new Netflix series called The Waterfront. Sure, it would’ve been a better surprise if this was somehow a Mindhunter spinoff, but it ain't. In fact, it kinda feels like a retread of Netflix's Bloodline but mixed with elements of Ozark. Which is not a bad combination, if done right.
In it, McCallany plays Harlan Buckley, the patriarch of a successful North Carolina dynasty who's trying to keep his family's fishing and restaurant empire afloat after suffering a couple of heart attacks and watching the local fishing industry hit with a devastating economic downturn. Desperate and out of options, Harlan must turn to other ways to keep his books balanced, resorting to risky measures that include working with local drug runners for extra income. Of course, this puts his family and legacy on the line. But some lines are meant to be crossed, especially when it means doing whatever it takes to protect the family's future.
Joining McCallany in the cast is Maria Bello (Beef, The Cooler) as Harlan's wife and business partner Mae, alongside Melissa Benoist (CW’s Supergirl) and Jake Weary (TNT’s Animal Kingdom) as their adult children Bree and Cane Buckley.
Topher Grace (That '70s Show, Spider-Man 3, BlacKkKlansman) also co-stars as a local opium drug-dealer and drug-runner who links up with the Buckley family, using their boats for trafficking and putting them in jeopardy with the DEA.
Inspired by true events, The Waterfront is created, written, and executive produced by Kevin Williamson, the creator and writer of Dawson's Creek and the Scream franchise. The series is set to debut Thursday, June 19th, only on Netflix. Watch the trailer, above.
Official Synopsis:
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.
Inspired by true events and set against the backdrop of coastal North Carolina, The Waterfront comes from prolific showrunner Kevin Williamson (Scream, Dawson’s Creek, The Vampire Diaries). 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.
