Tom Bateman has been cast as the male lead opposite Lili Reinhart in the film adaptation of Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling romance novel “The Love Hypothesis.” Bateman will portray grumpy professor Adam Carlsen alongside Reinhart’s PhD candidate Olive Smith in this academic fake-dating romance. The casting has generated significant social media attention due to Bateman’s real-life marriage to Daisy Ridley, who originally inspired the character through the novel’s origins as Star Wars fanfiction. Further details reveal additional compelling connections.
Amazon MGM Studios has cast Tom Bateman as the male lead in their upcoming adaptation of “The Love Hypothesis,” pairing him opposite Lili Reinhart in a casting decision that has generated significant attention due to unique real-life connections to the source material.
Bateman will portray Adam Carlsen, the grumpy, genius professor central to the romance, while Reinhart takes on the role of PhD candidate Olive Smith. The casting announcement has prompted viral social media commentary, as fans have noted the meta-textual elements surrounding Bateman’s selection for the role.
The meta-textual casting choice has sparked viral fan reactions across social media platforms, highlighting unprecedented real-life connections to the source material.
The novel, written by Ali Hazelwood and published in 2021, originated as Star Wars Reylo fanfiction titled “Head Over Feet,” posted to Archive of Our Own in 2018. The original story paired Rey, played by Daisy Ridley in the films, with Kylo Ren, portrayed by Adam Driver. The character Adam Carlsen’s name serves as a tribute to Driver, who inspired the brooding romantic archetype.
The casting gains additional significance because Bateman is married to Daisy Ridley, the actress who inspired the fictional Olive character in the fanfiction version. This real-life relationship creates what fans have described as a “fanfiction husband turned real-life husband” dynamic, adding an unprecedented layer to the adaptation process. The couple first met in 2017 during the filming of “Murder on the Orient Express.”
Amazon promotional posts have highlighted the “hypothesis” that Bateman represents the perfect choice for Adam Carlsen, while Ridley has publicly acknowledged the fandom’s enthusiasm surrounding her husband’s casting. The announcement dominated online fan circles and romance media publications.
Claire Scanlon, known for directing “Set It Up” and episodes of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” will helm the project, with Sarah Rothschild writing the screenplay. The film maintains the book’s academic setting and fake-dating, slow-burn romance formula that made the novel a bestseller. Like many crossover artists in entertainment, the story’s journey from fanfiction to bestselling novel to major studio adaptation demonstrates the evolving landscape of multimedia success. Hazelwood describes the adaptation process as a dream come true and has expressed high hopes for fan reception.
Bateman, recognized for roles in “Murder on the Orient Express” and other major films, joins Reinhart, who gained prominence on “Riverdale.” The adaptation positions itself among a growing wave of book-to-film romance projects targeting streaming platforms, capitalizing on the integration of real-life Hollywood relationships in casting decisions for literary adaptations.
