A Buzzy New T.V. Series Is About To Start Filming In P.E.I.

The bijou Maritime province may be synonymous with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s iconic Anne of Green Gables, but it’s now updating its cultural C.V. for the streaming era by investing in an upcoming Netflix adaptation of Toronto-based author Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel, This Summer Will Be Different.

In a news conference with Netflix this week, the province announced it is providing $5 million in rebates to support the production of the limited series, which is set to start filming on the island this summer.

The news was hailed as an opportunity for the province—one that will not only give global audiences a peek at its red cliffs, secluded coves and picturesque long grasses once again, but that may also encourage greater interest in the area becoming a site for future film and TV productions.

P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz talked up the prospects of the filming to CBC, sharing his excitement about the potential “economic development opportunity for Prince Edward Island” as well as the “opportunity to showcase Prince Edward Island to the world.”

That could pay off for locals in the short-term, too. According to CBC, the Netflix production of Fortune’s book could generate 75 local jobs.

Fortune’s book is partly set in P.E.I.

The choice of location for the screen adaptation holds true to the book, Fortune’s third, which is set between Toronto and Prince Edward Island and conjures the charms of the picturesque province as part of its romantic spell.

This Summer Will Be Different centres on the hot ’n’ heavy romantic connection between Lucy—who is visiting her BFF at her childhood home on the island—and Felix, a very handsome oyster shucker who just happens to be said BFF’s younger brother. (On her site, Fortune has a travel guide to the island highlighting some of the area’s must-visit destinations and story locations.)

The series is yet to start filming, however, and likely won’t make it to screens until next year.

In the meantime, there’s plenty of Fortune to go around. The author's latest novel, Our Perfect Storm, dropped this May, and on June 10, the streaming adaptation of Fortune’s first book, the cottage country love story Every Summer After, premieres on Prime Video.