It’s official, Lynn Painter’s YA best selling novel Better Than the Movies is coming to our screens! Netflix has enlisted Julia Hart to direct the feature adaptation, the casting is yet to be announced. Here is everything we know about the upcoming film thusfar!
#1 New York Times bestseller, Better Than the Movies is a heartwarming novel that pays homage to romantic comedies, in which senior Liz Buxbaum relies on her obsession with rom-com movies to get the attention of her hard to get crush, with help from her annoying but cute next-door neighbor. One thing leads to another and we see Liz’s awkward teen self navigate her friendships and relationships the best she can while grieving the loss of her mother. This book explores many different tropes including fake dating, enemies to lovers, boy next door, drawing many different audiences in and keeping them coming back for more.
Not only is Julia Hart directing, but she is also co-writing the project. She completed a draft with her husband Jordan Horowitz. As far as other drafts, Heather Flanders completed one. Horowitz will produce for Original Headquarters, with Shauna Phelan. Better Than the Movies is the second Original Headquarters project at Netflix, alongside Don’t Say Good Luck, starring Sunny Sandler, that is set to release August 14th. Hart and Horowitz also co-wrote that title, alongside Laura Hankin.
As far as casting goes, we are yet to receive any confirmation of who the directors have their eyes on to play the roles of Liz or Wes. Lynn Painter herself came out and said that she pictured Lola Tung as Liz Buxbaum and Jack Champion as Wes Bennett. While we wait on this film, Painter has another book that is soon to be brought to life, Fake Skating, to look forward to. Although the production for both films are very early in the making, stay tuned for more updates on who will play in the film and when it will be released!
