Phoebe Dynevor to lead Emily Henry's bestseller 'Beach Read' adaptation
Washington, February 20
Phoebe Dynevor is set to headline 20th Century Studios' adaptation of Emily Henry's bestselling novel 'Beach Read.'
The actor, most recently seen in Lionsgate's dystopian drama 'Anniversary', will take on a lead role in the romantic comedy based on Henry's 2020 New York Times bestseller, Deadline has confirmed.
The story follows January Andrews, a successful romance novelist grappling with grief and crippling writer's block after the death of her father, and the discovery of secrets he had long kept hidden.
Seeking solace and closure, January spends the summer at her late father's Michigan beach house to prepare it for sale. There, she reconnects with Gus Everett, a former college rival and literary fiction author equally stuck in a creative rut.
In a bid to break through their respective blocks, the two strike a pact to swap genres for the summer, agreeing firmly that there will be no romance between them, a promise that proves increasingly complicated.
The film will be directed by Yulin Kuang, who also penned the screenplay. Kuang previously co-wrote the Netflix adaptation of 'People We Meet on Vacation', another novel by Emily Henry.
Neal H Moritz will produce through Original Films, with Karina Rahardja serving as executive producer. Sarah Shepard and Catherine Hughes are overseeing the project for 20th Century Studios, while the studio's literary affairs team, led by Clare Reeth, secured the rights to the book, as per Deadline.
Meanwhile, Dynevor's upcoming projects include the Netflix survival thriller 'Shiver'; A24's 'Famous' opposite Zac Efron; and 'Remain', a romantic drama directed by M Night Shyamalan and co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal, set for release by Warner Bros on October 23.
She has also completed production on 'Pendulum', a thriller from Mark Heyman, alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Norman Reedus.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting premise. The 'swap genres' pact is a clever twist. As someone who writes for a living, I can relate to the writer's block struggle! Hope the adaptation does justice to the book. The director's previous work on Netflix gives me confidence.
I read the book during the lockdown! It's more than just a romance; it deals with grief and family secrets in a beautiful way. I'm a bit nervous about the film adaptation—they often simplify things too much. Fingers crossed they get the emotional depth right.
Phoebe is everywhere these days! Good for her. But honestly, I wish our Bollywood producers would adapt more Indian bestsellers with this kind of efficiency. We have so many amazing stories by authors like Chetan Bhagat and Chitra Banerjee that would make great films.
The plot reminds me of those classic enemies-to-lovers tropes, which I usually enjoy. The Michigan beach house setting sounds perfect. Hope they capture that summer vibe. Will definitely watch with my wife when it releases.
Respectfully, while the project sounds fine, it's another example of Hollywood churning out similar content. A romance novelist and a literary fiction writer? Feels a bit predictable. I hope the screenplay brings something fresh to the table beyond the standard formula.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.