Lynn Painter’s YA novel Better Than the Movies is getting a movie adaptation. Netflix has cast Beatrice Kitsos and David Iacono as the leads, with production also adding several new cast members.
Kitsos will play Liz Buxbaum, a high school senior who loves romantic comedies. Iacono will play Wes Bennett, her next-door neighbour.
In the story, Liz wants to get closer to her longtime crush. She turns to Wes for help, and the two come up with a plan. Along the way, their relationship draws on familiar rom-com setups such as fake dating, enemies to lovers and the boy next door.
The cast also includes Deacon Phillippe, Nicole Bruner, Luke Kirby and Judy Greer. Phillippe plays Michael Young, while Bruner plays Jocelyn. Kirby takes on the role of Liz’s father, Brian Buxbaum. Greer plays Helena.
Claire Coffee joins as Martha Buxbaum, with Ora Duplass as Laney Morgan and Veronica Garrubbo as Alex. Kynlee Heiman will play a younger version of Liz.
The film is based on Painter’s bestselling 2021 novel. Better Than the Movies reached No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It has also spent 44 months on the newspaper’s monthly YA paperback list and 20 weeks on its weekly YA hardcover list.
Kitsos had previously made her interest in the role public. She posted on Instagram asking to audition for the adaptation.
Julia Hart is directing the film. She is also co-writing the screenplay with Jordan Horowitz and Heather Flanders. Horowitz, Shauna Phelan and Melanie Krauss are producing.
The movie is the second Netflix project from Original Headquarters, following Don’t Say Good Luck, another YA title directed by Hart.
At this time, Netflix has not announced a release date for the film.
