Some stories just seem destined for the screen, and Chasing Red just proved it is one of them. The hit Wattpad romance that captured the hearts of readers everywhere is now set to come alive in a film adaptation. Leading the project is Gavin Casalegno, fresh off his breakout role in The Summer I Turned Pretty, paired with Riverdale’s Madelaine Petsch, who will bring the story’s headstrong heroine to life.

With their chemistry and the web novel’s passionate drama, audiences can expect an adaptation that embraces all the heart, intensity, and twists of the original tale.

Gavin Casalegno and Madelaine Petsch hav signed to to lead the film adaptation of Isabelle Ronin’s 2017 Wattpad phenomenon Chasing Red, a YA romance that became one of the platform’s biggest English-language hits. Petsch will play Veronica, a straight-A student trying to outrun her past, while Casalegno will star as Caleb, the college heartthrob she is determined not to fall for despite their growing chemistry. Amazon Prime Video has secured the film for multiple international territories.

Chasing Red will be directed by Mackenzie Munro from a screenplay by Lauren Schacher. Munro, notably, has previous experience helming Wattpad offerings (Boot Camp). Production on the film is scheduled to begin in early 2026 in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla region, led by producers from Stampede Ventures and Webtoon Productions. With its global fanbase, strong creative team, and expanding Prime Video reach, the venture is being positioned as a ginormous YA romance event. The last time a Wattpad story received such a push, it produced not a single film but a series of five and did okay commercially.

Taylor Swift Gets a Heavy Feature in Prime Video’s ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, Fans Go Bonkers on X, Celebrating the Moment

Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Josephine Langford led that endeavor, earning a name for themselves despite the low collections of the franchise and redefining how Wattpad stories could be told on the big screen.

The After series, Wattpad’s breakthrough phenomenon, earned $168 million across five films. While not a blockbuster by Hollywood standards, the franchise was a major win for a digital-origin story, proving the platform’s stories could translate to screens. Following Tessa Young (Josephine Langford) and Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), the films captured audiences with a mix of passion, drama, and emotional twists, turning a viral Wattpad novel into a globally recognized screen franchise.

So, while the wait for Chasing Red is long, with the film still in pre-production, there is clearly no shortage of book-to-screen adaptations to stream in the meantime. And Wattpad stories continue to find their way into global cinema and digital streaming, the journey from viral novel to on-screen drama is proving more exciting than ever. With its passionate story and rising stars, Chasing Red promises to join this growing wave, keeping viewers anticipating every development.

'Oh, Hi!' Lands on Netflix: A Twisted Love Story You Won't Want to Miss

What do you think of the Chasing Red casting so far? Let us know in the comments.