Sophie Nélisse Cast as Lead in Netflix Book-to-Series Adaptation ‘This Summer Will Be Different’

Netflix has cast Sophie Nélisse in a lead role in its upcoming book-to-series adaptation, This Summer Will Be Different, according to an exclusive report from Deadline published July 16, 2026.

The project marks Nélisse’s first major role announced for the Netflix series. Deadline identifies her as known for roles in the series Heated Rivalry and Yellowjackets.

This Summer Will Be Different is being adapted from a novel by Carley Fortune, with Netflix turning the book into a television production. The report describes the series as an adaptation intended for release on the streaming platform, but it does not provide a premiere date.

Deadline reports that the show’s creative team includes Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart. The outlet credits Clark as a creator and Stewart as showrunner for the series, placing them in day-to-day oversight of the adaptation.

Production is scheduled to take place in Prince Edward Island and Toronto later this summer, the report says. The filming locations point to the project’s planned use of Atlantic Canada and Ontario for principal production, with the timeline tied to the summer window.

Deadline’s report does not include casting for additional roles, descriptions of character breakdowns, or details on production timelines beyond the later-summer filming plan. It also does not specify whether the series will be produced by Netflix directly or through a separate production company.

For Nélisse, the booking extends her screen resume with another high-profile project attached to a major international streaming outlet. The announcement also adds to Netflix’s slate of adaptations, as the streamer continues to pursue fiction based on contemporary novels.

The series now moves into the next phase typical for television development and production: finalizing casting, refining scripts for filming, and executing the announced location schedule across Prince Edward Island and Toronto later this summer, with further details expected as production gets underway.