If you’re a romance reader, this is one adaptation you’ll want to keep on your radar.
After months of casting announcements and anticipation, It Happened One Summer has officially started filming. As a fan of Tessa Bailey’s bestselling romance, I’m so excited to finally see this story making its way to the big screen.
Here’s everything we know so far about the movie—from the cast to filming updates and what fans can expect.
Filming Is Officially Underway
The cameras are officially rolling!
Filming began this week in New York, making this one of the biggest milestones since the adaptation was first announced. While we still have a long wait before the movie is released, seeing production finally get underway makes it all feel much more real.
Hopefully that also means we’ll start getting our first behind-the-scenes photos over the next few weeks.
Meet the Cast
One of the biggest questions with any book adaptation is whether the cast feels right. While everyone pictures these characters differently, I think this cast has a lot of potential. Each actor seems to capture something readers loved about the books.
Nina Dobrev as Piper Bellinger
Nina Dobrev will take on the role of Piper, the glamorous Los Angeles socialite whose life gets turned upside down when she’s sent to a small fishing town in Washington.
Piper is funny, confident, and sometimes a little over-the-top, but underneath it all she has a huge heart. It’ll be fun to see Nina bring that mix of humor and vulnerability to the screen.
Tyler Hoechlin as Brendan Taggart
I honestly think Tyler Hoechlin is a great choice for Brendan.
He’s got the rugged look and quiet confidence that Brendan is known for, and I can already picture him as the hardworking sea captain who has no patience for Piper when she first arrives in Westport.
The chemistry between Piper and Brendan is what made the book such a fun read, so I’m hoping these two can capture that same magic on screen.
Virginia Gardner as Hannah Bellinger
Virginia Gardner has been cast as Piper’s younger sister, Hannah.
If you’ve read both books, you know Hannah’s story becomes just as important, so I’m excited to see her introduced from the beginning.
Gavin Leatherwood as Fox Thornton
One of the newest casting announcements is Gavin Leatherwood as Fox.
As someone who loved Hook, Line, and Sinker, I couldn’t be happier to see Fox joining the movie. I’m really hoping we get enough of him and Hannah together to start building excitement for a potential sequel.
What Is It Happened One Summer About?
If you haven’t read the book yet, It Happened One Summer follows Piper Bellinger after she’s sent from Beverly Hills to the small seaside town of Westport, Washington, to learn some responsibility.
She’s completely out of her element, especially when she meets Brendan Taggart, a no-nonsense fishing boat captain who isn’t exactly impressed by her city-girl lifestyle.
What starts as a classic opposites-attract romance quickly turns into one of my favorite grumpy-sunshine love stories.
When Will the Movie Be Released?
An official release date hasn’t been announced yet.
With filming just getting started, my guess is we’ll see the movie sometime in 2027, but for now, we’ll have to wait for an official announcement.
Will the Movie Stay True to the Book?
This is probably my biggest question.
One of the things I loved most about It Happened One Summer was the balance between humor, romance, and Piper’s personal growth. Yes, it’s a fun rom-com, but it’s also about finding confidence, discovering where you belong, and realizing there’s more to life than the image you’ve created for yourself.
I’m also hoping they keep the charm of Westport. The small-town setting feels like its own character in the book, and I’d love to see that translated to the screen.
My Thoughts So Far
It’s still early, but I’m feeling optimistic.
I like the casting choices, filming is officially underway, and it finally feels like this adaptation is becoming a reality.
There’s still a lot we don’t know, but I’ll definitely be following every casting update, behind-the-scenes photo, and trailer as they’re released.
If this movie captures even half of the chemistry between Piper and Brendan, I think romance fans are in for a treat.
What Do You Think?
Are you excited for the It Happened One Summer movie?
Do you like the casting so far, or did you have someone else in mind for Piper, Brendan, Hannah, or Fox? Let me know in the comments!
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