What happens when a fake relationship starts generating very real chemistry? For Olive Smith, it means an unexpected romance with the intimidating professor she never planned to date. For fans of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, it means finally seeing Olive and Adam step out of the pages and onto the screen.

Prime Video’s adaptation has assembled a cast led by Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman, with a few familiar faces joining them in the halls of academia. And while the movie promises plenty of scientific sparks, its casting comes with a fun bit of real-life Hollywood serendipity.

Lili Reinhart stars as Olive Smith, the brilliant but somewhat impulsive Ph.D. candidate at the center of the story. Reinhart is best known for playing Betty Cooper in Riverdale, while her film credits include Hustlers and Chemical Hearts. She also serves as an executive producer on the adaptation.

Tom Bateman plays Dr. Adam Carlsen, Olive’s intimidating professor and eventual fake boyfriend. Bateman has appeared in films including Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, as well as the television series Beecham House and Hedda.

Rachel Marsh plays Anh Pham, Olive’s best friend. Marsh has appeared in Fallout and Adults.

Nicholas Duvernay takes on the role of Jeremy Langley, Olive’s crush, following appearances in The White Lotus and Reminders of Him.

Jaboukie Young-White plays Malcolm Browne, with the comedian and actor who previously appeared in Rap Sh!t and Only Murders in the Building. The ensemble also includes Arty Froushan as Dr. Thomas Benton, along with Jeananne Goossen and Aladeen Tawfeek.

“It’s Not Method Acting” — Lili Reinhart Feared Dancing With BTS, but Being Sick Made Her ‘SWIM’ Performance Easier

As the movie nears its release, its biggest piece of trivia may be hiding in plain sight: Tom Bateman has a real-life connection to the very character who helped inspire Olive.

Before The Love Hypothesis became a bestselling novel, Ali Hazelwood’s story originated as Reylo fan fiction, inspired by the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars. Rey was played by Daisy Ridley—and, in an almost unbelievably perfect casting coincidence, Ridley is married to Tom Bateman.

Bateman told ELLE that director Claire Scanlon was the one who explained the connection after he was offered the role. “What do you mean?” he recalled asking when Scanlon brought it up, before she clarified: “Well, not really you and this book. Your wife and this book.” The coincidence was apparently news to both Bateman and Ridley at first.

“People genuinely think that Tom and Daisy knew about this,” Reinhart told ELLE. “They did not know, I can tell you that with 100-percent certainty.”

Ridley eventually learned about the connection and reacted positively, calling it “very thrilling” that the bestselling book was inspired by something she had been part of. The Love Hypothesis is set to premiere globally on Prime Video on September 23, 2026, bringing Lili Reinhart’s Olive Smith and Tom Bateman’s Adam Carlsen to screens for the first time.

“Wanted to Pay Homage” — Lili Reinhart on Her ’90s Rom-Com Method Dressing for 'The Love Hypothesis'

Are you excited for the movie? Let us know in the comments.