In July 2025, some thrilling news broke regarding former Riverdale actress Lili Reinhart: she will star and serve as an executive producer in the upcoming adaptation of The Love Hypothesis, the best-selling novel by author Ali Hazelwood.
The book tells the story of PhD biology candidate Olive Smith, who enters into a fake relationship with intimidating professor Dr. Adam Carlsen to prove to her best friend that she has moved on from her past.
Published in 2021, this novel became an instant phenomenon. Playing on the fake-dating trope and a Reylo fan-fic (Star Wars' characters, Rey and Kylo Ren), the book immediately garnered a lot of publicity and raving reviews from fans due to its intriguing and engaging characters, as well as due to Hazelwood's writing and ability to balance a love story with an authentic portrayal of academic life. For book lovers and romantic-comedy film viewers, the adaptation of The Love Hypothesis will have it all, as Reinhart will play the main character, Olive.
Lili Reinhart rose to international fame back in 2017 when she began starring as Betty Cooper in the teen series, Riverdale. Running for seven seasons, The CW adapted series, based on the Archie Comics, was also responsible for throwing into the limelight actors such as KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Madeline Petsch, and marking the long-awaited return of Cole Sprouse to TV.
Although Riverdale had its ups and downs in terms of reviews from critics, it established itself as a TV phenomenon nonetheless. After 137 episodes, it became one of the CW's most profitable series. Reinhart, in particular, received praise for her performance as the smart, tough-as-nails, and complex Betty, while also establishing Reinhart as a recognisable performer in Hollywood.
In 2019, Reinhart then starred in the hit film Hustlers, and later appeared in the film adaptation of the novel Chemical Hearts, earning her first executive producer credit. Two years later, Reinhart earned another executive producer credit, this time for Netflix's Look Both Ways, in which she played the same character navigating two different timelines with distinct life outcomes.
In 2021, Reinhart founded her own production company, Small Victory Productions, and signed a deal with Amazon Studios. The purpose of Reinhart's company is to "develop original and adapted content for film and television with a focus on modern, young adult content that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, as well as supporting new voices."
The 28-year-old actress has dedicated her career to being part of a plethora of projects, as well as using her platform to discuss important topics for her, including her battle with mental health, body dysmorphia, and the LGBTQ community, as Reinhart came out as bisexual in 2020. Reinhart is also an author, having released a poetry book called Swimming Lessons: Poems, which debuted at number two on the New York Times Best Sellers List in early October 2020.
In addition, British actor Tom Bateman was later revealed to have been cast opposite Reinhart in The Love Hypothesis, to play the elusive and intriguing character of Dr. Adam Carlsen. Interestingly enough, Bateman is married in real life to British actress Daisy Ridley, who is well-known for portraying Rey in the Star Wars saga, and is also the original inspiration for Olive's character. Meanwhile, Ridley's Star Wars co-star, Adam Driver, who played villain turned anti-hero Kylo Ren, is Adam Carlsen's inspiration.
There isn't a premiere date yet. However, this news at least confirms something: the Star Wars fan-fics, and STEM romance novels multiverse is real.