Bridgerton Star and Actor Lead Emily Henry Bestseller Adaptation

Patrick Schwarzenegger and Phoebe Dynevor have been cast as the leads in the film adaptation of Emily Henry’s 2020 bestseller Beach Read. The project is being produced by 20th Century Studios.

Schwarzenegger, known for his role in The White Lotus, will play Gus Everett, a dark fiction author. Dynevor, who rose to prominence in Bridgerton, will portray January Andrews, a successful romance novelist.

The announcement was confirmed via social media on April 14, 2026. Schwarzenegger expressed his excitement for the role on Instagram Stories, thanking Emily Henry for the opportunity and stating his intention to bring her writing to life for the fans.

Dynevor also shared her enthusiasm on Instagram Stories on April 14, 2026, noting that Schwarzenegger’s performance during their chemistry reads was impressive.

Plot and Production Details

The story follows January Andrews, who is struggling with grief and writer’s block following the death of her father and the discovery of long-hidden secrets. While spending the summer at a beach house in Michigan to prepare it for sale, she reconnects with Gus Everett, a former college rival.

View this post on Instagram about Henry, Emily Henry

Both characters are creatively stuck and enter into a summer writing challenge where they agree to swap literary genres. As part of their agreement, they promise that no romance will develop between them.

The film is set to be written and directed by Yulin Kuang. Kuang previously served as a co-writer for the adaptation of Henry’s 2021 novel People We Meet on Vacation.

Neal H. Moritz is producing the feature through Original Films, with Karina Rahardja serving as executive producer. Sarah Shepard and Catherine Hughes are overseeing the project for 20th Century Studios, while Clare Reeth led the literary affairs team to secure the rights to the book.

Career Context and Upcoming Projects

The casting comes during a period of high demand for romance novel adaptations. Other works by Emily Henry, including Book Lovers, Happy Place, and Funny Story, have contributed to her status as a leading author in the genre. The romance series Heated Rivalry was noted as a major sleeper hit on television in 2025.

Phoebe Dynevor has a significant slate of upcoming projects beyond Beach Read:

• Remain: A romantic drama from M. Night Shyamalan, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, scheduled for release by Warner Bros. On October 23.
• Famous: An A24 project opposite Zac Efron.
• Shiver: A survival thriller for Netflix.
• Pendulum: A thriller directed by Mark Heyman, starring alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Norman Reedus.

Dynevor was most recently seen in the Lionsgate dystopian drama Anniversary, directed by Jan Komasa.

A release date for the Beach Read film has not yet been announced.