Kevin was inspired by his childhood when writing Dawson's Creek, which aired for six seasons from 1998 to 2003. When speaking to TV Insider, Williamson said that he’d always wanted to tell the more sinister story of his youth — which would become The Waterfront.

While it's set in the fictional town of Havenport, the new drama series is indeed based on a real story - one pulling from the creator's past. The eight-episode series centers around the Buckleys, who rule the local fishing industry and some of the town's biggest restaurants.