Kevin Bacon and Andie MacDowell Join Cast of Beloved Bestselling Romance Film Adaptation
Two more stars have joined the cast for the feature film adaptation of Beach Read. In an exclusive to Deadline, Kevin Bacon and Andie MacDowell have been cast alongside Phoebe Dynevor and Patrick Schwarzenegger. Production for the movie is set to kick off next month, in June of 2026.
Beach Read is the 2020 smash hit romantic comedy by novelist Emily Henry. Released to rave reviews, Beach Read was a New York Times bestseller, and was named the Best Romance Book of 2020 by PopSugar. Kirkus Reviewscalled the book, "[a] heartfelt look at taking second chances, in life and in love."
Beach Readfollows January Andrews, (who will be played by Dynevor) a successful romance novelist who is going through it after finding out her father was having an affair after he passes away. January goes to spend some time at her late father's old beach house in order to prepare it to sell. While there, she runs into her longtime college rival, Augustus Everett, who is now an acclaimed literary fiction writer. The two bond over suffering from writer's block and agree to a challenge of swapping genres for the summer. Along the way the two creatives explore life, love, loss, grief, and creativity.
While no character information has been given about who Bacon and MacDowell will be playing in the film version, fans on social media were delighted with the announcement of the pair's casting.
"If Kevin Bacon and Andie MacDowell are joining Beach Read, this adaptation might actually capture the charm and chaos that made the book hit so hard."
"Strong cast added to Beach Read-Kevin Bacon and Andie MacDowell join the film"
"Legacy casting + new-gen leads feels like Hollywood testing nostalgia vs fresh chemistry in real time."
Beach Read is one of five Emily Henry novels to be optioned for a to screen adaptation. No release date has been set yet for the film.
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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 2:12 PM.