In a sensational development for fans of young adult romance, Netflix has officially cast Beatrice Kitsos and David Iacono in the lead roles of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Lynn Painter’s #1 New York Times bestselling BookTok phenomenon, Better Than the Movies.

The pivotal casting announcement, confirmed on July 31, 2026, brings to life the beloved characters of Liz Buxbaum and Wes Bennett. The story centers on Liz, whose obsession with romantic comedies proves instrumental when she schemes with her annoying but undeniably cute next-door neighbor to capture the attention of her untouchable crush.

A Dream Casting Realized

The BookTok community had already prefigured this pairing, creating viral reels of dream casting long before the adaptation was formally announced. Kitsos, known for her standout role in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, even took to Instagram to offer herself up for an audition after fans enthusiastically submitted her name for the role of Liz.

Iacono, who recently appeared in Jurassic World Rebirth and The Summer I Turned Pretty, brings a winsome energy perfectly suited for the classic "boy next door" trope that the novel brilliantly subverts.

Behind the Camera

Steering this venture is director Julia Hart, who recently helmed the coming-of-age Netflix drama Don’t Say Good Luck. She is working from a screenplay by Heather Flanders, alongside Hart and producer Jordan Horowitz.

Horowitz is producing for his and Hart’s Original Headquarters banner, joined by producers Shauna Phelan and Melanie Krauss. This marks another significant win for Lynn Painter adaptations, following closely on the heels of Sony’s recent announcement that Josh Boone will direct the feature adaptation of her novel Fake Skating.

As production gears up, the ubiquitous excitement among the novel's devoted readership suggests that this cinematic translation is poised to be a landmark event in the young adult romance genre.