Full Breakdown
Netflix Begins Production on “This Summer Will Be Different”
8/5/2026, 5:00:58 PM
Core Event: Production Launch
On August 4, Netflix announced that production on the 10-episode adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel *This Summer Will Be Different* has begun on Prince Edward Island and in Toronto. The series will follow Lucy Ashby, a young woman navigating a forbidden romance with her best friend’s brother.
Cast and Creative Team
- Leads – Sophie Nélisse as Lucy Ashby, Francesca Reale as Bridget Clark, and Roby Attal as Felix “Wolf” Clark.
- Recurring additions – Jordan Rodrigues (Miles Lam), Jude Wilson (Zach), Natalie Brown (Christine), James Tupper (Ken), Tom Barnett (Peter) and Celia Owen (Joy).
- Creators/showrunners – Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, who also serve as executive producers.
- Executive producers – author Carley Fortune, Jennifer Kawaja, Elise Cousineau and Sam Levine (Sphere Media).
- Directors – Karen Maine, Jasmin Mozaffari and Fab Filippo.
Background & Context
*This Summer Will Be Different* is Fortune’s third novel, published in 2024. It follows the success of her debut, *Every Summer After*, which Prime Video adapted as *Every Year After* (Season 2 renewed). The partnership has produced multiple screen adaptations of Fortune’s work, establishing a track record for streaming-ready romance narratives.
Data & Statistics
- Planned length: 10 episodes.
- Cast composition: 3 lead actors plus 6 recurring actors, for a total of 9 named performers announced to date.
Official Statements & Responses
Carley Fortune told Netflix that the island’s beauty and her own visits there helped shape the novel’s setting and tone.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’ve read the first episode script, and it’s great. It’s all moving very, very quickly, but it felt like it was almost like matchmaking, where you can see that this is the perfect fit,” — Carley Fortune, additional executive
What’s Next
No release date has been announced; the series remains in early production.
