Lili Reinhart is stepping into one of the most anticipated romantic comedy adaptations of the year with The Love Hypothesis, but the actor has revealed that she was initially hesitant about taking on the role.

Reinhart plays Olive Smith, a determined biology PhD candidate whose carefully organised life takes an unexpected turn after she kisses Dr Adam Carlsen, a notoriously intimidating professor. What follows is a fake-dating arrangement that gradually develops into something much more complicated.

Speaking about the project, Reinhart reflected on what drew her toward Olive and the challenges of bringing a much-loved book character to the screen. The actor is also taking on a larger creative responsibility as an executive producer on the film, giving her an opportunity to be involved beyond her performance.

Based on Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling 2021 novel, The Love Hypothesis became a major romance phenomenon after its publication. The story’s blend of academia, science, humour and slow-burn romance helped it build a large readership, making the film adaptation highly anticipated among fans of the book.

The movie is directed by Claire Scanlon and stars Tom Bateman opposite Reinhart as Adam Carlsen. Their characters’ complicated fake relationship forms the central romance of the story.

The film arrives at a time when romantic comedies are once again attracting strong interest across streaming platforms and cinemas. With adaptations of popular romance and young-adult novels continuing to find audiences, The Love Hypothesis is positioned as another major entry in the genre’s resurgence.

The film is scheduled to premiere globally on Prime Video on September 23.