‘Beach Read’ Update! First Look at Gus & January Revealed
What To Know
- Emily Henry’s novel Beach Read is being adapted into a movie.
- Phoebe Dynevor will star as January and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Gus.
- On June 8, a first look photo of Dynevor and Schwarzenegger on set was revealed.
Almost a year out from its release, Beach Read has plenty of buzz around it. It makes sense, considering how beloved Emily Henry’s romance novel of the same name is. Director Yulin Kuang is giving Gus and January lovers even more to discuss now that the adaptation has started filming. In the biggest update since the casting announcements, we now have our first look at Gus and January.
Kuang shared the photo of Patrick Schwarzenegger and Phoebe Dynevor as the two leads on June 8. “A crumb of bts from the BEACH READ camera test for you, dear reader,” she wrote in the caption of a June 8 Instagram post. “Can’t wait to show what we’ve been cooking up.”
In addition to that, Beach Read updates have been coming out steadily over the last few months, and January and Gus’ story will be here before you know it. So, Swooon has gathered all the latest updates about the Beach Read movie’s release date, cast, and more below.
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What is Beach Read‘s release date?
Beach Read is moving full steam ahead. The adaptation was announced in April 2023, and the release date has been confirmed: May 7, 2027.
Who is in the Beach Read cast?
After Dynevor’s casting was announced in February 2026, she told Collider, “It’s been a while since I’ve been able to do [romance]. So it felt like all the pieces were in place to make like a really beautiful romance film [that] hopefully everyone will see. And hopefully the people that love the book will enjoy, and we’ll also get a new audience.”
Schwarzenegger, best known for his role in The White Lotus, would be playing Augustus “Gus” Everett opposite the Bridgerton actress. In the official announcement on April 14, Deadline revealed, “The search for Gus was an extensive process that took place over many months, and while initially he was a dark horse candidate and an unexpected choice, Schwarzenegger’s tape and chemistry read with Dynevor blew away filmmakers and the studio.”
Schwarzenegger posted a screenshot of the Deadline article and wrote on Instagram, “I’m so excited for this!!! First – let me say thank you to @emilyhenrywrites for the opportunity! I will do everything possible to make the fans happy & proud and bring your brilliant writing to life. PS- my wife is obsessed with you! @phoebedynevor I can’t wait to bring these characters to life with you. It was a pleasure working opposite you through these chemistry reads. And to @yulin.kuang for your direction & conversations about these characters and their stories. I can’t wait to embark on this journey with you.”
According to Deadline, “The search for Gus was an extensive process that took place over many months, and while initially he was a dark horse candidate and an unexpected choice, Schwarzenegger’s tape and chemistry read with Dynevor blew away filmmakers and the studio.”
On Instagram, Kuang also gave insight into why Schwarzenegger was perfect for the role. “‘Patrick is a slow burn,’ is what I wrote in my notes after meeting him for the first time,” she began. “There was something about the way he talked about his feelings on love and romance that I couldn’t forget. But I was unconvinced we’d found our Gus, because I knew we had to be exhaustive in our efforts, given how important this character is to readers. We saw a lot of men for this role. We reviewed a lot of tapes, sent a lot of avails checks and took a lot of meetings over a six month period. I have always maintained that we are not casting a character, but a relationship. Once we knew Phoebe would be our January, my efforts became more focused and specific – not on who would play the best Gus according to the text, but who would play the best Gus opposite our specific January.”
Kuang continued, “That meant in-person director sessions and chemistry reads with Phoebe. The moment Patrick sat across from her, there was something electric in the room with us. “There’s magic to chase here,” I wrote in my notes afterwards. I checked in with Phoebe after the reads and she said, “It’s obviously Patrick, isn’t it?” and I thought to myself, ‘So she feels it too.'”
Henry has also addressed the major fan reaction to the actors playing Gus and January. During the author’s May 19 appearance on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, cohost Jenna Bush Hager pointed out readers’ mixed reaction to the casting news. “I also have to sit back and let it unfold,” the author responded. “I mean, it is our baby — the readers’ and my baby, but it’s also the filmmaker’s baby and the studio’s baby. And I’m along for the ride with the readers. We just have to trust the vision and I feel like Yulin Kuang, our writer-director, is so brilliant, and I know she’s gonna do an amazing job.”
Since the main duo were announced, more casting news has come out. Kevin Bacon and Andie MacDowell joined the cast on May 28, according to Deadline, who reported that Kristin Davis and Tig Notaro had signed on a few days later. All character details are currently under wraps.
Will Beach Read be released in theaters?
Yes, Beach Read will have a theatrical release! Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation got a streaming-only release on Netflix, and her Happy Place and Funny Story movies will follow suit. However, with 20th Century Studios holding the rights to Beach Read, Kuang has let us know that Beach Read will be different. In her post about casting Schwarzenegger, Kuang teased, “See you in theaters soon.”
Kuang previously revealed in a Washington Post interview that it was important to her that Beach Read be released in theaters. “The parts that you look forward to as a romance consumer, as a reader, as a viewer, those parts when you’re all together — it’s like church. You can feel that buzz,” she said. “And I think that’s something that we need.”
What is Beach Read about?
Beach Read is about a romance author who no longer believes in love. After her father’s death, January moves into his beach house for the summer. Literary fiction author (and January’s former college rival) Augustus Everett becomes her neighbor. To solve their mutual writer’s block, they decide to switch genres and teach each other the ins and outs of each other’s work.
Beach Read, May 7, In Theaters
