The “Emily Henry Cinematic Universe” just found its next leading man, and the internet is officially losing its cool.
Patrick Schwarzenegger has landed the coveted role of Gus Everett in th Century Studios’ upcoming adaptation of the blockbuster novel Beach Read. He is set to star opposite Bridgerton breakout Phoebe Dynevor, who was previously announced as the film’s leading lady, January Andrews.
The news sent shockwaves through “BookTok” and social media on Wednesday, as fans have spent years casting their own versions of the cynical, brooding author Gus.
While Schwarzenegger might have seemed like a “dark horse” candidate initially, sources say his chemistry read with Dynevor was nothing short of electric. The duo managed to blow away both the studio and the filmmakers, proving that they have the spark needed to bring the beloved rivals-to-lovers story to life.
Published in , Beach Read follows January, a romance novelist who has lost her faith in love, and Gus, a serious literary author. The two find themselves living in neighboring beach houses for the summer, both grappling with crippling writer’s block.
To break the slump, they strike a deal: January will write a “serious” literary novel, and Gus will write something upbeat and romantic. The catch? They aren’t allowed to fall in love. But as any Emily Henry fan knows, some rules are meant to be broken.
The film is in expert hands with Yulin Kuang, who is directing from her own script. Kuang is already a favorite among the “Henny” fandom, having also co-written the screenplay for Netflix’s adaptation of another Henry hit, People We Meet on Vacation.
For Schwarzenegger, this casting marks a massive “win” in what is becoming a career-defining hot streak.
The actor recently garnered rave reviews for his performance as Saxon in the third season of Mike White’s Emmy-winning series The White Lotus. Between his time in Thailand with HBO and his upcoming role in the Amazon MGM romantic drama Love of Your Life opposite Margaret Qualley, Schwarzenegger is quickly becoming Hollywood’s favorite new leading man.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to react to the casting news, with one user writing, “I didn’t see it at first, but Patrick and Phoebe together? The visuals are going to be insane.”
Another fan noted, “Gus Everett is such a specific vibe, and after seeing Patrick in The White Lotus, I’m totally sold on his range. Let’s go!”
Schwarzenegger has been busy lately, showing off his versatility by playing Tim Tebow in Ryan Murphy’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez and starring in the gritty The Boys spinoff Gen V.
But Beach Read marks a pivot into the heartthrob territory that fans are clearly ready for.
With Neal H. Moritz producing and a team of literary experts overseeing the project, the countdown to the Michigan beach house retreat has officially begun. Grab your sunblock and your tissues—this one is going to be a tearjerker.
