Topher Grace’s “Unhinged” Performance Praised By Creator For Upcoming Netflix Crime Drama

Topher Grace has been praised by The Waterfront‘s creator for his commitment and performance in the upcoming Netflix series. Inspired by true events, The Waterfront depicts the struggling Buckley family running a fishing business in North Carolina. They have to resort to risky and drastic measures to keep their lives and empire afloat. The first images from The Waterfront have already been released, showing Mindhunter’s Holt McCallany and Supergirl‘s Melissa Benoist in their roles. Grace plays Grady, a shady man with a criminal past who offers the Buckleys a lifeline.

New images released from the series by Entertainment Weekly show Grace in his role for the first time:

In the same article, the series’ creator, Kevin Williamson, describes Grady as “a very broken, unhinged man.” Williamson also reveals that he wrote the role specifically for Grace and praises the actor for his work:

He brings sort of an unexpectedness to the role. He feels unpredictable. And so we were able to write toward that. So you just never know if he’s going to hug you or shoot you.

What I love so much about Topher is when I got on a call with him, he was like, ‘Can I play with the dialogue a little bit?’ I went, ‘Thank God, yes, do whatever you want to with it.’ He would give us so much material that I had to cut some of it out because it was like, ‘This isn’t a funny scene.’ But he gave me so much gold. I can’t take credit for a lot of his stuff.

They Show Grace’s Commitment To The Role

Williamson’s comments show that, throughout the production of The Waterfront, Grace was eager to put his own spin on the role. The fact that Grace wanted the opportunity to alter dialogue clearly indicates his commitment to the character and the show at large. What’s more, Williamson’s comments about Grady’s “unhinged” mindset throughout The Waterfront indicate that this role could be darker than some of Grace’s previous work. At the very least, it seems Grady will keep viewers, as well as the Buckleys, on their toes, unable to guess what Grace’s character has planned.

Our Take On Topher Grace’s Role In The Waterfront

It Could Be The Perfect Evolution For The Actor

Williamson’s comments also suggest Grace’s performance will have a potent blend of drama and comedy, with the actor eager to punch up the comedic elements. Grace is primed for that sort of role at this point in his career. He has proven himself to be a skilled comedy actor through his work on That ’70s Show, as well as his appearances in movies such as In Good Company and Valentine’s Day.

However, more recent roles, including Grace’s impressive cameo in Heretic, indicate that he is trying to explore his skills in other genres, including drama. Based on Williamson’s comments, Grace will be perfect for the role of a conniving and deceptive criminal in The Waterfront, showing off a side of himself audiences haven’t seen before.

The Waterfront is scheduled for release on Netflix on June 19, 2025.

Source: Entertainment Weekly