Netflix’s This Summer Will Be Different is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing upcoming romance series in the streamer’s Canadian lineup. The adaptation of Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel has expanded its ensemble with a fresh round of casting, including Megan Follows, Malin Akerman, Nadine Bhabha and Matias Lucas, signaling even more momentum for the highly anticipated TV project.
Set against the windswept beauty of Prince Edward Island, This Summer Will Be Different blends forbidden romance, longtime friendship and emotional summer nostalgia. With filming already wrapped on PEI and production continuing in Toronto, the series is shaping up as a notable addition to Netflix’s TV & Video slate.
This Summer Will Be Different adds key new cast members
The latest casting news brings recognizable screen talent into This Summer Will Be Different. Newly announced additions include:
- Malin Akerman as Aunt Stacy
- Megan Follows as Cheryl
- Nadine Bhabha as Farah
- Matias Lucas as Carter
The announcement gives the series an added layer of appeal, especially with Follows joining a project inspired in part by the cultural legacy of Anne of Green Gables. That connection feels particularly fitting given the story’s Prince Edward Island setting and Follows’ enduring association with Anne Shirley.
These actors join an ensemble that already includes Jordan Rodrigues, Jude Wilson, Natalie Brown, James Tupper, Tom Barnett and Celia Owen, rounding out a cast designed to support both the romantic core and the broader emotional world of the story.
What This Summer Will Be Different is about
Based on Carley Fortune’s third novel, published in May 2024, This Summer Will Be Different unfolds across multiple summers on Prince Edward Island. At the center of the story is Lucy “Bee” Ashby, played by Sophie Nélisse, who returns to the island to spend time with her best friend Bridget, portrayed by Francesca Reale.
The complication, of course, is Felix. Played by Roby Attal, Felix is Bridget’s brother and the one man Lucy knows she should not fall for. That central tension gives This Summer Will Be Different its hook: a slow-burning, emotionally layered romance shaped by timing, loyalty and the irresistible pull of a place that keeps drawing its characters back.
Viewers who enjoy contemporary romance adaptations can expect:
- A friends-and-family dynamic with emotional stakes
- A forbidden love story at the center
- A scenic coastal setting that functions almost like a character
- Multiple timelines and summers that deepen the drama
Why Megan Follows’ casting stands out
Among all the new names, Megan Follows may be the most evocative addition to This Summer Will Be Different. Best known for playing Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables, Follows has long been tied to PEI storytelling in the minds of audiences. Since Carley Fortune’s novel drew inspiration from that world, her inclusion feels more than just nostalgic casting; it feels thematically perfect.
For longtime fans of Canadian television and literary adaptations, this casting choice adds intergenerational appeal. It also gives This Summer Will Be Different a subtle cultural resonance that could help the series stand out in Netflix’s crowded adaptation pipeline.
Malin Akerman’s addition is also noteworthy. Fresh off recent work including The Hunting Wives and known for balancing dramatic and charismatic roles, she brings broader international recognition to the production.
Who is behind the Netflix adaptation?
This Summer Will Be Different was created for television by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, who also serve as showrunners. Both are attached as executive producers, alongside author Carley Fortune and producers Jennifer Kawaja, Elise Cousineau and Samantha Levine for Sphere Media.
That creative lineup suggests Netflix is treating the adaptation with care, particularly as Fortune’s novels continue to build strong momentum in both publishing and screen development circles. For readers who have followed the success of romantic book-to-screen projects, this is a meaningful sign that This Summer Will Be Different is being positioned as more than just another seasonal drama.
Production update and Netflix’s Canadian strategy
Production on This Summer Will Be Different has already completed filming on Prince Edward Island and has moved to Toronto. That two-location production approach allows the series to preserve the authenticity of its coastal setting while using Toronto’s infrastructure to support the rest of the shoot.
The project also fits neatly into Netflix’s expanding Canadian slate, which includes titles such as North of North, Wayward, Who Killed the Montreal Expos?, BELOW and The Granville Girls. In that context, This Summer Will Be Different is part of a larger strategy to invest in Canadian stories with global streaming appeal.
That matters because contemporary romance, especially when paired with literary recognition and a visually rich location, travels well internationally. Netflix clearly sees potential in prestige-leaning romantic drama with broad audience crossover.
What fans can expect from This Summer Will Be Different
Although a release date has not yet been confirmed, the elements now in place suggest This Summer Will Be Different could become a standout adaptation for viewers who love romantic storytelling with emotional depth.
Reasons the series is already generating interest include:
- A bestselling source novel with an existing fan base
- A scenic PEI setting that gives the show strong visual identity
- A cast mixing rising talent and familiar faces
- A creative team with Canadian TV experience
- A built-in blend of nostalgia and modern romance
If the adaptation captures the warmth, tension and summery longing of the book, it could easily join the growing list of buzzy Netflix romance dramas.
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Conclusion
With Megan Follows, Malin Akerman and several new cast members joining the ensemble, This Summer Will Be Different is gaining the kind of shape and prestige that should put it firmly on romance fans’ watchlists. Between its bestselling source material, PEI backdrop and carefully assembled cast, This Summer Will Be Different has all the ingredients of a compelling Netflix adaptation. If the series delivers on the emotional pull of Carley Fortune’s novel, it may end up being one of the platform’s most talked-about literary romances.
