Montreal actor Sophie Nélisse has been cast as the lead in Netflix’s 10-episode adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel This Summer Will Be Different, a production that will shoot this summer on Prince Edward Island and in Toronto. The province has committed $5 million to the project, which the province says will be the largest production to film in P.E.I.
Homegrown setting for a coastal romance
The series follows Lucy “Bee” Ashby, the heroine of Fortune’s 2024 novel, who falls into a fraught summer romance while vacationing on Prince Edward Island. In the book, Lucy returns year after year to the island and faces a complicated attraction to Felix, the younger brother of her best friend Bridget. The story’s P.E.I. setting is central to the plot and to the mood of the adaptation.
Cast and creative background
Nélisse, 26, is coming off a prominent part in Crave’s Heated Rivalry, in which she played Rose Landry, and she is also known for her role as Shauna Shipman on the Showtime series Yellowjackets. She was recognized at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards with two trophies for her work. The casting announcement was foreshadowed by an Instagram story in which Nélisse was seen reading Carley Fortune’s Meet Me at the Lake.
Local impact and context
The production follows other recent Canadian screen adaptations of Fortune’s work, including Prime Video’s Every Year After. Fortune’s novels have performed well in Canada, with This Summer Will Be Different among the bestselling Canadian books in 2024 at independent bookstores. Local leaders expect the series to generate economic activity for the island through on-location hires, accommodations and services used by cast and crew.
- Production: Netflix, 10 episodes
- Lead actor: Sophie Nélisse as Lucy “Bee” Ashby
- Filming locations: Prince Edward Island and Toronto
- Provincial support: $5 million investment
Practical note for Islanders
Filming on P.E.I. this summer may mean road or location closures in affected communities and increased demand for local services. Residents who work in hospitality, construction, transportation and the arts may find seasonal opportunities connected to the shoot. Officials and production representatives typically issue location notices and contact local municipalities in advance to coordinate permits and safety measures.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Series | This Summer Will Be Different (10 episodes) |
| Lead | Sophie Nélisse as Lucy “Bee” Ashby |
| Locations | Prince Edward Island; Toronto |
| Provincial investment | $5 million |
The province’s financial commitment marks the project as one of the more significant screen productions to arrive on the island in recent years. For many Islanders, adaptations like this bring renewed attention to P.E.I.’s landscapes and local economies — and a reminder that the island continues to be seen as a desirable filming location for stories set along Canada’s coasts.
