The Emily Henry cinematic universe is officially expanding, and the cast list is getting incredibly star-studded. Today, Deadline announced that Hollywood legends Kevin Bacon and Andie MacDowell have officially joined the cast of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Beach Read.

While their exact roles are currently being kept tightly under wraps, their addition brings serious prestige to the project. They will be joining the previously announced leading duo: Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor and The White Lotus actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

If you are one of the millions of readers who made this book a massive viral sensation, here is everything you need to know about how the movie is shaping up and the controversy surrounding its leading man.

The Plot: A Classic Rom-Com Setup

For the uninitiated, Beach Read is the 2020 novel that essentially crowned Emily Henry as the modern queen of romance. The story follows two writers with completely opposite sensibilities who end up living in neighboring beach houses in Michigan for the summer.

  • January Andrews (Dynevor): A hopelessly romantic bestselling author who has completely lost her faith in love—and her ability to write—following the sudden death of her father and a devastating family secret.
  • Augustus “Gus” Everett (Schwarzenegger): An acclaimed, deeply cynical literary fiction author (and January’s former college rival) who is also battling a massive case of writer’s block.

To break their creative dry spells, the two strike a deal to swap genres for the summer. Gus agrees to write a happy-ending romance, while January attempts to pen a dark, serious literary novel. As they take each other on “research” field trips—ranging from classic rom-com dates to interviewing survivors of a local cult—the line between fiction and their own undeniable attraction beautifully blurs.

The Gus Controversy and the “Electric” Chemistry Read

When Patrick Schwarzenegger was announced as Gus back in April, the internet—and specifically BookTok—had an absolute meltdown. Readers had spent years fancasting brooding, dark-haired, emotionally chaotic actors (like Paul Mescal, Logan Lerman, or Dev Patel) in the role. Consequently, Schwarzenegger’s highly polished, golden-retriever aesthetic was a massive shock to the fandom’s system.

However, director and screenwriter Yulin Kuang was incredibly quick to defend the choice. She noted that casting wasn’t about finding someone who perfectly matched the physical book description; it was entirely about finding the perfect counterpart to Dynevor’s January.

According to Kuang, the chemistry read between the two stars was absolutely undeniable. “The moment Patrick sat across from her, there was something electric in the room with us,” she shared on Instagram following the announcement. Even Emily Henry stepped in during a recent interview on Today, urging fans to trust the vision of the filmmakers. “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,” the author explained, promising that the creative team is doing an amazing job.

Building the Emily Henry Cinematic Universe

Directed and adapted by Kuang (who is clearly a trusted collaborator, having also penned the script for the upcoming adaptation of Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation), Beach Read is in incredibly safe hands.

With veterans like Bacon and MacDowell now officially on board to anchor the supporting cast, production is expected to ramp up shortly. While 20th Century Studios has not yet locked in a firm release date, the film is rapidly becoming one of the most highly anticipated romantic comedies in development.Between this star-studded casting update and the multiple other Emily Henry projects currently in the works—including adaptations of Happy Place, Book Lovers, and Funny Story—it is a fantastic time to be a romance fan.