The Waterfront Creator Teases Shocking Paths Ahead for the Buckley Clan

After a first season filled with shocking twists, betrayals, and cliffhangers, fans of The Waterfront are eagerly asking one question: what comes next?

Speaking to TV Line, series creator and showrunner Kevin Williamson — best known for redefining horror with Scream — gave audiences their clearest sense yet of the directions he envisions for season two. While the show has not yet been officially renewed, Williamson made it clear that he has plenty of ideas for where the Buckley family saga could head.

Grady Won’t Return

One of the first things Williamson confirmed was that Topher Grace’s Grady, who was shot twice in the season one finale, will not be making a surprise comeback. His death, Williamson implied, was final, and the storyline moving forward will revolve around the surviving members of the Buckley family.

That puts the spotlight squarely on Holt McCallany’s Harlan Buckley, Maria Bello’s Belle Buckley, Danielle Campbell’s Peyton Buckley, Melissa Benoist’s Bree Buckley, and Jake Weary’s Cane Buckley. Each character, Williamson hinted, faces a long road ahead.

Bree’s Journey of Healing

Of all the characters, Melissa Benoist’s Bree ended the season in perhaps the most precarious position. After narrowly surviving the violent finale, Bree will be forced to reckon with her past trauma while seeking a path toward healing.

Williamson emphasized that Bree’s arc will not be rushed. “She’s got deep-seated trauma that can’t be solved overnight,” he explained. “Her journey is going to be about resilience and recovery, about finding her way back to herself.”

For fans who watched Bree endure betrayal, violence, and near death, this storyline promises both catharsis and difficult emotional beats. It also raises questions about how her recovery will reshape the Buckley family’s already tense dynamics.

Peyton’s Unexpected Transformation

Perhaps the most intriguing hints from Williamson involved Danielle Campbell’s Peyton. At the start of the series, Peyton boldly declared she would never turn into her mother, Belle. Yet Williamson teased that Peyton’s future might look very different than she imagines.

“Early on, she makes this big statement about how she’s never going to be like Belle,” Williamson said. “But I think she might be wrong about that.”

The suggestion that Peyton could slowly morph into a version of her calculating, ambitious mother lays the groundwork for a fascinating internal conflict. Williamson described Peyton’s arc as a journey of self-reckoning: “The journey for her is going to be, well, how does she fix things? How is she going to make her husband love her? I think it’s going to be a great journey for her.”

Such comments fuel speculation that Peyton’s marriage and her moral compass will both be tested in season two.

Belle’s Next Moves

Maria Bello’s Belle Buckley has long been a commanding presence on the series, and Williamson hinted that her manipulative and calculating side is far from spent. While details were scarce, the suggestion that Peyton may start resembling her mother raises the possibility of power struggles within the family.

For Belle, the question is whether she will double down on her methods of control or be forced to adapt as her children evolve in unexpected directions.

Cane and Harlan: The Men of the Family

While much of the intrigue centers on the Buckley women, Williamson also noted that Jake Weary’s Cane and Holt McCallany’s Harlan still have long roads ahead.

Harlan, as the family patriarch, will likely continue grappling with the fallout from his decisions, while Cane remains one of the show’s wild cards — a volatile figure whose loyalty and impulses have often led the family into chaos.

Though Williamson didn’t provide specific details about their paths, he suggested that both characters’ futures are tied closely to how the women of the Buckley clan redefine themselves.

The Shape of Season Two

While The Waterfront has yet to be officially renewed, Williamson’s comments reveal tentative plans for where the show could go. He made clear that the next chapter will not be about shocking returns from the dead, but about psychological journeys, emotional reckonings, and the shifting power dynamics within the Buckley family.

The series has already drawn comparisons to family sagas like Succession and Big Little Lies, blending wealth and privilege with murder and betrayal. Williamson seems determined to lean into those themes, while also charting bold new territory for his characters.

A Creator’s Confidence

Williamson’s career has long been defined by his ability to mix genre thrills with sharp character work. From Scream to Dawson’s Creek, his stories balance suspense with deep emotional stakes. That same DNA is evident in The Waterfront.

For fans still reeling from the first season’s explosive finale, Williamson’s teasers offer both comfort and excitement. Comfort, in knowing that the core cast has long, detailed arcs waiting for them; and excitement, in realizing that those arcs may take the characters to places they never imagined.

Waiting for Renewal

For now, audiences will have to wait to see if Netflix gives The Waterfront the green light for season two. But if Williamson’s words are any indication, there is no shortage of drama, conflict, and shocking revelations left to uncover.

As the Buckleys struggle with grief, betrayal, and ambition, one thing seems certain: the calm waters of their world will never stay still for long.