She fell in love with her best friend's brother: Netflix's new romantic series has begun filming
Netflix is preparing to add a new literary adaptation to its summer romance catalog. The production of This Summer Will Be Different has started in the Prince Edward Island region of Canada, where the story takes place, as well as in Toronto.
Along with the announcement of the shoot, the first official images of Sophie Nélisse, Roby Attal, and Francesca Reale, who portray Lucy, Felix, and Bridget, have also been released. The release date for the series has not yet been determined.
A one-night encounter haunts them for five summers
The story centers around Lucy, who goes to Prince Edward Island to spend time with her best friend Bridget. However, before Bridget arrives on the island, she meets her brother Felix, and a connection forms between them that they must ignore.
Netflix describes the series as a romantic drama about a woman in her twenties experiencing her first true love, spanning multiple summers. The issue is that the person Lucy falls in love with is the brother of her close friend, and the relationship needs to be kept secret from the very beginning.
In the source novel, despite the rule they set, Lucy and Felix find their way back to each other every summer. A development that occurs shortly before Bridget's wedding forces Lucy to question both her relationship with her friend and the love she has kept hidden for years. It has not yet been revealed how much the series will alter this part of the book.
Prince Edward Island will be more than just a beautiful backdrop
One of the significant aspects of This Summer Will Be Different is that the story is actually filmed in the location described in the book. Instead of mimicking coastal towns and summer vibes in another region, Netflix has moved part of the production to Prince Edward Island.
The regional government has also provided 5 million Canadian dollars in support through the Prince Edward Island Film Production Fund for the production. The agreement includes local workers participating in the production, services being sourced from local businesses, and showcasing the region's beaches and gastronomy in the series.
The author of the novel, Carley Fortune, mentions that she first visited the island during her youth with her best friend, and that the atmosphere of the book stems from this trip, the people of the region, and their long-lasting friendships. Fortune also serves as an executive producer for the adaptation.
The main cast of the series is complete
Sophie Nélisse, known for Yellowjackets and Heated Rivalry, plays Lucy, the central character of the story. Roby Attal, from The Haunting of Bly Manor, portrays Felix, whom Lucy should stay away from; Francesca Reale, from Stranger Things and Do Revenge, plays her best friend Bridget.
Other announced cast members include:
Jordan Rodrigues — Miles Lam
Jude Wilson — Zach
Natalie Brown — Christine
James Tupper — Ken
Tom Barnett — Peter
Celia Owen — Joy
Netflix has not yet detailed how these characters will be involved in the relationship between Lucy, Felix, and Bridget.
Nobody Wants This director behind the camera
The ten-episode series is being prepared by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart. The duo is also serving as executive producers alongside Carley Fortune, Jennifer Kawaja, and Elise Cousineau.
The directing team includes names familiar with the romantic comedy genre. In addition to Karen Maine, known for Nobody Wants This and Yes, God, Yes, Jasmin Mozaffari from Ginny & Georgia and Fab Filippo, one of the creators of Sort Of, will direct episodes.
Netflix brings together four strong romantic themes in one series
One aspect of This Summer Will Be Different that could resonate on social media is not just its adaptation from a popular novel. The series combines four elements that have frequently emerged in recent romantic productions: a forbidden love for a friend's brother, a relationship that endures over the years, a summer beach atmosphere, and a secret kept from a close friend.
It's too early to say whether these ingredients will make the series a new The Summer I Turned Pretty. However, Netflix's decision to share the first images of the three main characters as soon as filming began indicates that the promotion will be tailored not only for readers of the book but also for a broader audience seeking summer romance.
The most important piece of information that has yet to be revealed for This Summer Will Be Different is the release date. While filming continues in Prince Edward Island and Toronto, Netflix will announce when Lucy and Felix's years-long secret relationship will be available on the platform later on.
