Andie MacDowell, Kevin Bacon Cast in Adaptation of Emily Henry Bestseller ‘Beach Read’

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Andie MacDowell and Kevin Bacon are the next stars joining the Emily Henry cinematic universe.

The two actors join Phoebe Dynevor and Patrick Schwarzenegger in the film adaptation of Henry’s 2020 bestseller Beach Read, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Their specific roles have not been announced.

Dynevor and Schwarzenegger were previously announced as the romantic leads with Dynevor portraying January Andrews and Schwarzenegger Gus Everett.

Beach Read follows romance writer January Andrews who no longer believes in love, and Augustus “Gus” Everett, a literary writer enduring severe writer’s block. When the polar opposites find themselves living in neighboring beach houses in Michigan, they eventually devise a plan to help each other get out of a creative rut. Gus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next great American novel. Though helping each other write their next books, things take a turn when they may just find love in the process.

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Yulin Kuang, who also co-wrote the adaptation of Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation for Netflix, is directing the feature take from her own script for 20th Century Studios.

Given the casting has been highly anticipated, fans have been quick to share their thoughts on who their ideal casting choices are. After Schwarzenegger was cast as Gus, the online fan discourse was divided, with many noting they believed the actor was the wrong choice for the character. When addressing the mixed response, Henry said she will “sit back and let it unfold. It is our baby — the readers’ and my baby — but it’s also the filmmakers’ baby and the studio’s baby, and I’m along for the ride with the readers, and we just have to trust the vision.”

Beach Read is the latest book from Henry, dubbed the queen of rom-coms, to get the adaptation treatment. Three of her other novels (Book Lovers, Funny Story and Happy Place) are also in development to become films. People We Meet on Vacation, starring Tom Blyth and Emily Bader, began streaming on Netflix in January.

Neal H. Moritz is producing via Original Films with Karina Rahardja executive producing. Sarah Shepard is overseeing for 20th Century Studios. Clare Reeth is credited with closing the original book rights deal.

Bacon is represented by MGMT Entertainment. MacDowell is represented by the Gersh Agency and RMS Productions.

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