Daisy Ridley‘s husband Tom Bateman has been cast in a new Prime Video romance – though the news has a more interesting twist than appears.
The actor, who appeared with his wife in Murder on the Orient Express and also starred in TV series Based on a True Story, will be a lead in new movie The Love Hypothesis.
Based on the bestselling novel by Ali Hazelwood, the plot focuses on a PhD student called Olive (played by Riverdale‘s Lili Reinhart) who wants to prove to her friend that she can have a long-term relationship.
As such, she begins a false relationship with her professor Adam (Bateman) – and while the pair cannot stand each other, there may be more between them than appears.
While the casting may appear standard, there’s a more fascinating history as Hazelwood’s 2021 novel actually started out as fanfiction focused on Star Wars characters Rey and Kylo Ren.
Yep, the same Rey that was played by Bateman’s real-life wife Ridley.
Dave Benett
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Fans couldn’t help but notice the neat link, one writing in an Instagram comment below the official announcement: “He’s married with Daisy Ridley… OMG full circle moment.”
“The fact his wife is Daisy Ridley, who is half of Reylo,” another added, while a third said: “I can’t help but laugh with the fact he’s married to Daisy Ridley (canonically Olive Smith hahahaha).”
Originally released online in 2018 with the title Head Over Feet, the fanfic led to a book deal that was reworked into what became The Love Hypothesis.
Related: Daisy Ridley lands next lead movie role
“My agent started reading my fanfiction on AO3 and then she reached out with a DM,” the writer explained to Collider in 2021.
“She was like, ‘I saw that you wrote something about maybe pulling some of your fics and reworking them. And I wanted to tell you that I’m a literary agent and I would love to see you some of your manuscripts, if you’re interested in it’.
“And so that’s how I took the fanfiction of mine that I thought was the most reworkable and I sent it to her and then I signed with her. And then after approximately 70 billion more revisions, both with her and an editor.”
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Credit: Berkley Books
Addressing the movie in a new statement, Hazelwood said: “Books and films are very different media, and I have complete trust in this brilliant team. I cannot wait to see the final product they’ll come up with. I hope they have as much fun filming as I had while writing the book.”
The Love Hypothesis is being directed by Set It Up‘s Claire Scanlon, with The Sleepover’s Sarah Rothschild adapting the book for screen.
Ridley herself has reacted to her husband’s casting, sharing an Instagram Story revealing the news, while the star has previously addressed the existence of the book.
“Honestly, for anyone to just write a book is so impressive, let alone a New York Times bestseller, let alone something inspired by something I was part of,” she told Collider in 2023. “That’s very thrilling. So, thank you, if anyone’s reading this.”
The Love Hypothesis will stream on Prime Video, though is yet to confirm a release date.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.