Get details on the forthcoming adaptation of ‘Beach Read’
Get details on the forthcoming adaptation of ‘Beach Read’
The film will bring Emily Henry’s bestselling novel to the big screen, and we’ll share all the details available so far.
Another New York Times bestselling novel is getting sent to the silver screen. This time, Emily Henry’s “Beach Read” is getting the movie treatment; first released in 2020, the novel is a New York Times bestseller, with over 1.5 million ratings on Goodreads. We’ll give you all the details we have on the film version so far, including cast and plot details, and where we think it will stream eventually.
Everything you need to know about ‘Beach Read’
When is ‘Beach Read’ arriving in theaters?
Despite the recent casting announcement (more on that next), 20th Century Studios has not yet dated the film for release. However, shooting is expected to begin this year, so it feels likely that rom-com lovers will be able to watch “Beach Read” next summer.
Will ‘Beach Read’ premiere in movie theaters or on streaming?
Like the release date, 20th Century hasn’t confirmed where the movie will premiere, but we do have some details that we can use to build a working theory on. Since the studio is owned by Disney, there are three main tracks it can take: movie theaters, Disney+, and Hulu. Given that this is an adult rom-com, Disney+ seems unlikely.
So, “Beach Reads” will likely either go the cinema route or debut on Hulu (which will almost certainly be fully integrated as an add-on tile in Disney+ by then). It is not uncommon for 20th Century films to be streaming exclusive releases. The studio’s most recent movie “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” debuted in March on Hulu, despite its interesting premise and movie-star cast.
In 2025, five of 20th Century’s 10 films premiered on streaming, including all three that debuted between June and September, as we expect “Beach Read” will. So, that does add some credence to the idea that it could end up as a streaming-exclusive.
Another argument in this direction is that the last adaptation of a Henry book, “People We Meet on Vacation,” was extremely successful on Netflix earlier this year. And since “Beach Read” is being written and directed by the same person who wrote the “People We Meet on Vacation” screenplay, it could make sense to continue that trend.
However, the film is set to be centered on two up-and-coming Hollywood stars (again, more on them momentarily), so 20th Century might see this as an opportunity to make a splash at the summer box office, like it did with recent surprise hit “Send Help,” which premiered in January, starring Rachel McAdams and and Dylan O’Brien.
When will ‘Beach Read’ stream if it goes theaters?
Since the film does not have a scheduled release date, we cannot say for certain when the movie will stream at home, but it will likely take between 90 and 120 days to reach Hulu after its theatrical premiere. We fully expect that by the time “Beach Read” is ready to stream, Hulu will be available exclusively inside the Disney+ app. You will almost certainly still need a separate subscription to access Hulu content on Disney+, but it will likely be all in one place.
Who will star in ‘Beach Read’?
In April 2026, Deadline reported exclusively that Patrick Schwarzenegger had been cast to play Augustus “Gus” Everett, while Phoebe Dynevor will portray January Andrews. The rest of the cast has not yet been announced.
Dynevor, who is best known for her role as Daphne Bridgerton in “Bridgerton” was reportedly cast early in the process, while there was an extensive search to find her co-star. Schwarzenegger is fresh off a turn as the eldest Ratliff sibling in Season 3 of “The White Lotus,” and apparently won the job due to his chemistry read with Dynevor.
What is ‘Beach Read’ about?
“Beach Read” tells the story of Augustus Everett and January Andrews, two writers with very different styles. Augustus is a literary fiction author who isn’t afraid to kill off all his characters if it suits him, while January is a romance writer who typically leaves her characters alive at the end.
The two find themselves living in neighboring beach houses, broke and afflicted with writer’s block — until they hit upon an idea: Augustus will spend his summer writing something happy and uplifting, while January will try her hand at the next Great American Novel. Everyone will finish a book, and no one will fall in love. Seriously!
Who is directing, producing “Beach Read”?
Yulin Kuang, who most recently co-wrote “People We Meet on Vacation,” will adapt and direct the movie for the big screen. Neal H Moritz will produce, with Karina Rahardja serving as executive producer. Sarah Shepard and Catherine Hughes are overseeing for 20th Century Studios.
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