Netflix has expanded the cast of its upcoming adaptation of Carley Fortune’s bestselling romance novel This Summer Will Be Different. Malin Akerman, Megan Follows, Nadine Bhabha, and Matias Lucas have all joined the 10-episode series, which is currently in production in Canada.
Akerman, known for her role in Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, will play Aunt Stacy—a character Fortune has described as one of her personal favorites from the novel. Follows joins as Cheryl, while Bhabha is set as Farah and Lucas will play Carter.
The casting announcement was shared by Fortune on Instagram on September 16, giving readers a clearer picture of how the beloved novel will translate to the screen.
Malin Akerman has been cast as Aunt Stacy, a mentor figure to the lead character Lucy Ashby. In Fortune’s novel, Aunt Stacy serves as a guide and confidante to Lucy as she navigates her complicated feelings for Felix, her best friend’s brother.
Fortune shared her excitement about the casting on social media, noting that Aunt Stacy holds a special place in her heart among the characters she has created.
Akerman brings considerable television experience to the role. She most recently starred in Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, a drama series that has kept her in the streaming platform’s orbit. Her broader career includes notable roles in Billions, Watchmen, and the film 27 Dresses.
Akerman is a Swedish-Canadian actress who has built a diverse career across film and television. Her recent Netflix work in The Hunting Wives makes her a familiar face to the platform’s subscribers. She plays Aunt Stacy, described as a mentor to Lucy.
Megan Follows joins the series as Cheryl, Lucy’s mother. The casting carries particular significance for Fortune, who has spoken publicly about her admiration for Follows’ work. Follows is best known for her portrayal of Anne Shirley in the 1985 adaptation of Anne of Green Gables—a role that connects her to Prince Edward Island, where the novel and series are set.
Fortune called landing Follows a “BIG dream” of hers, given the actress’s association with the PEI-based story.
Nadine Bhabha will play Farah. Bhabha previously appeared in Heated Rivalry, a Canadian series that also featured Sophie Nélisse, who plays the lead role of Lucy in this adaptation. The two actresses did not share scenes in Heated Rivalry, making this their first on-screen collaboration.
Matias Lucas joins as Carter. Lucas is known for his work in The Order, a supernatural horror drama series.
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Sophie Nélisse | Lucy |
| Francesca Reale | Bridget |
| Roby Attal | Felix |
| Jordan Rodrigues | Miles Lam |
| Jude Wilson | Zach |
| Natalie Brown | Christine |
| James Tupper | Ken |
| Celia Owen | Joy |
| Tom Barnett | Glenn |
| Malin Akerman | Aunt Stacy |
| Megan Follows | Cheryl |
| Nadine Bhabha | Farah |
| Matias Lucas | Carter |
The previously announced supporting cast includes Jordan Rodrigues, Jude Wilson, Natalie Brown, James Tupper, Celia Owen, and Tom Barnett.
The Netflix adaptation follows Lucy, a young woman navigating her 20s and her first real love—with Felix, her best friend Bridget’s brother. The official logline describes it as “a simmering, sun-soaked romance set across multiple summers on Prince Edward Island.”
The story centers on the tension between Lucy’s loyalty to her best friend and her growing feelings for the one person she was never supposed to fall for. The multiple-summer structure allows the narrative to unfold gradually, showing how the relationship evolves over time.
Prince Edward Island serves as more than a backdrop—it is a central part of the story’s identity. The novel draws heavily on the island’s coastal atmosphere, beaches, and summer rhythms.
Yes. The Netflix series is based on Carley Fortune’s 2024 novel This Summer Will Be Different, which became a bestseller and a popular title in the BookTok community.
Fortune is a Canadian author whose work focuses on contemporary romance. In addition to This Summer Will Be Different, she has written Every Summer After and Our Perfect Storm. Her novels frequently explore themes of summer romance, second chances, and the complexities of relationships.
The adaptation marks another entry in the growing trend of book-to-screen romance adaptations, following the success of similar projects on streaming platforms.
Carley Fortune is a Canadian author whose romance novels have found a significant readership. This Summer Will Be Different was published in 2024 and quickly gained traction among readers who appreciate summer-set love stories with emotional depth.
Fortune is actively involved in the Netflix adaptation as an executive producer, alongside creators Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart. Her involvement suggests the series will maintain fidelity to the source material’s tone and themes.
The author has spoken publicly about her excitement regarding the production, particularly the decision to film on Prince Edward Island—a location she considers integral to the story.
Production on the series has involved two Canadian locations: Prince Edward Island and Toronto.
Filming on Prince Edward Island has already wrapped, and production has moved to Toronto, according to reports from TheWrap and Deadline. The PEI setting is significant because the novel’s story is deeply tied to the island’s landscape and summer culture.
Fortune has described filming on PEI as “such a dream,” noting her connection to the location and her alignment with Netflix Canada’s vision for the project.
The decision to film in Toronto for additional scenes reflects the practical realities of production, while the PEI segments anchor the series in its essential setting.
Prince Edward Island is not merely a filming location—it is a character in its own right within the novel and series. The island’s beaches, red sand, and maritime atmosphere shape the story’s emotional landscape.
The setting carries additional cultural weight due to its association with Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic novel about a young orphan growing up on the island. That connection adds a layer of literary resonance to This Summer Will Be Different, and the casting of Megan Follows—who portrayed Anne Shirley in the iconic 1985 adaptation—creates a meaningful bridge between the two PEI-set stories.
The series is planned as a 10-episode adaptation, as confirmed by Netflix and multiple entertainment publications.
No episode titles or specific runtimes have been announced. Netflix has not indicated whether all episodes will be released simultaneously or on a weekly schedule.
Netflix has not announced an official release date for This Summer Will Be Different.
Production began in August 2026 on Prince Edward Island, with filming subsequently moving to Toronto. Given the typical post-production timeline for streaming series, the show is expected to arrive sometime in 2027 or later, but Netflix has not confirmed any specific window.
No trailer has been released. Readers should treat any release date speculation as unofficial until Netflix makes an announcement.
Title: This Summer Will Be Different
Platform: Netflix (Canada)
Source Material: Carley Fortune’s 2024 novel of the same name
Genre: Romance drama
Episodes: 10
Lead Cast: Sophie Nélisse (Lucy), Francesca Reale (Bridget), Roby Attal (Felix)
Newly Announced Cast: Malin Akerman, Megan Follows, Nadine Bhabha, Matias Lucas
Filming Locations: Prince Edward Island, Toronto
Creators/Showrunners: Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart
Executive Producers: Dane Clark, Linsey Stewart, Carley Fortune, Jennifer Kawaja, Elise Cousineau
Production Company: Sphere Media
Release Status: No release date announced; production underway
The series was created and is showrun by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart. Clark’s previous credits include Suze and One More Time, while Stewart has worked on Workin’ Moms and North of North.
The executive producing team includes Clark, Stewart, Carley Fortune, and Sphere Media’s Jennifer Kawaja and Elise Cousineau.
Sphere Media, the production company behind the series, has previously produced Netflix’s limited series Wayward, suggesting an established working relationship with the streaming platform.
Akerman’s casting brings a recognizable name to the ensemble. Her recent credits include:
Her television and film experience spans comedy, drama, and genre work, making her a versatile addition to the romance adaptation.
Megan Follows’ casting carries a notable cultural connection. The Canadian actress is widely recognized for her portrayal of Anne Shirley in the 1985 adaptation of Anne of Green Gables—a role that made her an enduring figure in Canadian entertainment.
Because Anne of Green Gables is so closely associated with Prince Edward Island, Follows’ involvement in This Summer Will Be Different—another PEI-set story—creates a meaningful link between the two productions. Fortune has acknowledged this connection, calling Follows’ casting a “big dream.”
Netflix has not stated that Follows was cast specifically because of her Anne of Green Gables history, but the connection is a notable detail for fans of Canadian literature and television.
Nadine Bhabha and series lead Sophie Nélisse both appeared in the Canadian series Heated Rivalry. They did not share scenes in that production, but their previous presence in the same show adds an interesting layer to their new collaboration.
This is not the first time Netflix has brought together actors from its Canadian productions, reflecting the interconnected nature of the country’s entertainment industry.
Readers of Fortune’s novel can expect the central relationship between Lucy and Felix to remain the emotional core of the series. The multiple-summer structure of the book—which allows the romance to develop gradually—is well-suited to a 10-episode television format.
Bridget’s role as Lucy’s best friend and Felix’s sister creates the central tension: Lucy’s feelings for Felix complicate her loyalty to Bridget. The series will likely explore this dynamic alongside the PEI setting and the summer atmosphere that defines the novel.
Specific scenes from the book may be adapted, altered, or omitted for television, as is typical in any adaptation. The involvement of Fortune as an executive producer suggests a collaborative approach to translating the story.
| Element | Novel | Netflix Series |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Carley Fortune’s novel | Based on Fortune’s novel |
| Main Character | Lucy | Sophie Nélisse |
| Setting | Prince Edward Island | Filming in PEI and Toronto |
| Format | Novel | 10-episode series |
| Release | Published 2024 | No release date announced |
The addition of Akerman, Follows, Bhabha, and Lucas fills out the ensemble around the central trio of Nélisse, Reale, and Attal. The mix of established actors and emerging talents reflects Netflix’s approach to Canadian productions, which often blend recognizable names with rising stars.
The casting of Follows, in particular, adds a layer of Canadian cultural heritage to the project, given her association with Anne of Green Gables. For readers who grew up with Fortune’s novels, seeing these characters take shape on screen is the latest step in the adaptation’s journey from page to production.
Book-to-screen adaptations remain a significant category in streaming, and This Summer Will Be Different joins a growing list of romance novels making that transition.
The series stars Sophie Nélisse as Lucy, Francesca Reale as Bridget, and Roby Attal as Felix. Supporting cast includes Jordan Rodrigues, Jude Wilson, Natalie Brown, James Tupper, Celia Owen, and Tom Barnett, with newly announced additions Malin Akerman, Megan Follows, Nadine Bhabha, and Matias Lucas.
Malin Akerman will play Aunt Stacy, a mentor figure to the lead character Lucy Ashby.
Yes. The series is based on Carley Fortune’s 2024 novel of the same name.
Carley Fortune wrote the novel. She is also an executive producer on the Netflix adaptation.
Sophie Nélisse plays Lucy Ashby. Nélisse is known for her roles in Yellowjackets and Heated Rivalry.
Roby Attal plays Felix Clark. Attal’s previous credits include The Haunting of Bly Manor and Sex Lives of College Girls.
The series is planned as a 10-episode adaptation.
Production has taken place on Prince Edward Island and in Toronto. Filming on PEI has wrapped, and production has moved to Toronto.
Netflix has not announced a release date. Production is currently underway.
No trailer has been released. Netflix has not announced when a trailer might become available.
The four newly announced cast members are Malin Akerman (Aunt Stacy), Megan Follows (Cheryl), Nadine Bhabha (Farah), and Matias Lucas (Carter).
The series follows Lucy, a young woman navigating her 20s and her first real love with Felix—her best friend’s brother. The story is set across multiple summers on Prince Edward Island.