Credit: Book Cover

Good news for all the bibliophiles as Netflix is officially turning Lynn Painter’s bestselling YA romance ‘Better Than the Movies’ into a film, and, rather excitingly, the adaptation has already found its Liz and Wes!

Beatrice Kitsos, who viewers may recognise from Percy Jackson and the Olympians, will play Liz Buxbaum. Opposite her, David Iacono, recently seen in Jurassic World Rebirth, has been cast as Wes Bennett. And the pair got the roles following a much-talked-about talent search and a fair bit of passionate fan casting online.

And here is a lovely little detail: Kitsos had previously posted on Instagram asking for the chance to audition. So, yes, that really has worked out rather nicely, hasn’t it?

For anyone who hasn’t read it, ‘Better Than the Movies’ follows Liz, a high-school senior who adores romantic comedies and knows all their grand gestures. familiar tropes and picture-perfect endings inside out.

Her plan is to team up with her irritating but handsome next-door neighbour, Wes, to win the attention of her unattainable crush. You can probably guess that the plan goes a bit, well, off the rails.

The story makes full use of classic rom-com favourites, including fake dating and enemies-to-lovers with the ever-reliable boy-next-door setup. But rather than just wheeling them out one after another, it gives them a fresh spin and has a bit of fun with Liz’s belief that real romance ought to unfold exactly like it does on screen.

Julia Hart will direct the adaptation and is also co-writing the screenplay with Jordan Horowitz and Heather Flanders.

Netflix is not exactly taking a wild punt here, either. Painter’s novel is a number one New York Times bestseller and has spent a whopping amount of time on the publication’s YA bestseller lists.

There’s no release date just yet, which is a bit of a shame. Still, with Liz and Wes now officially cast, the whole thing is finally moving along.