The Love Hypothesis has officially moved from BookTok phenomenon to streaming movie, bringing Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling romance to Prime Video with Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman at the center of its much-discussed fake-dating story.
Released on September 23, 2026, the romantic comedy stars Reinhart as Stanford biology Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith and Bateman as intimidating professor Dr. Adam Carlsen. Claire Scanlon directs from a screenplay by Sarah Rothschild, with Hazelwood’s 2021 novel providing the source material. The movie runs approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes and is now available through Prime Video.
Lili Reinhart as Olive Smith
Lili Reinhart leads The Love Hypothesis cast as Olive Smith, a talented but socially awkward Ph.D. candidate whose carefully planned academic life becomes considerably more complicated after an impulsive kiss.
Olive is focused on her future in science when she realizes that her best friend, Anh, has feelings for Jeremy, a man Olive previously dated. Determined to convince Anh that she has moved on, Olive kisses the first available man she encounters.
That man turns out to be Dr. Adam Carlsen.
The spontaneous decision eventually develops into a fake relationship, complete with rules and boundaries. As Olive and Adam spend more time together, however, their supposedly practical arrangement becomes increasingly difficult to separate from genuine attraction.
Reinhart is best known for playing Betty Cooper on Riverdale. She has since expanded her film career through projects including Hustlers, Chemical Hearts and Look Both Ways.
The actress also serves as a producer on The Love Hypothesis. Reinhart said portraying Olive felt meaningful because of the character’s connection to women working in science. She recalled encountering students during filming who appreciated seeing women in STEM represented through a mainstream romantic story.
Tom Bateman as Dr. Adam Carlsen
Tom Bateman stars opposite Reinhart as Dr. Adam Carlsen, the professor Olive unexpectedly pulls into her fake-dating plan.
Adam has a formidable reputation within the department. He is brilliant, blunt and intimidating, qualities that initially make Olive’s choice particularly awkward.
He eventually agrees to the arrangement because the pretend relationship can also help him with circumstances surrounding his own academic career. What begins as a mutually useful agreement gradually reveals a much softer side of Adam than his professional reputation suggests.
Bateman is familiar to audiences from Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Behind Her Eyes and Based on a True Story.
The chemistry between Bateman and Reinhart was a major consideration during casting. Reinhart has said their connection was noticeable even during virtual auditions before they began filming together.
The role also carries an unusual pop-culture connection for Bateman. Hazelwood’s novel originated from a story inspired by Star Wars characters Rey and Kylo Ren. Bateman is married to Daisy Ridley, who played Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Rachel Marsh as Anh Pham
Rachel Marsh plays Anh Pham, Olive’s closest friend and one of the people responsible for setting the entire romantic plot in motion.
Anh develops feelings for Jeremy, but Olive worries her friend will not pursue those feelings because Jeremy and Olive previously had a romantic connection.
Olive’s attempt to prove that Jeremy is firmly in her past leads directly to her impulsive kiss with Adam.
The friendship between Olive and Anh remains an important part of the film rather than functioning simply as a device to start the romance.
Reinhart has described that friendship as foundational to the story. Marsh, meanwhile, said she became a fan of Hazelwood’s novel after receiving the project and reading it for the role.
Marsh previously appeared in projects including The Morning Show, Fallout and Adults.
Nicholas Duvernay as Jeremy Langley
Nicholas Duvernay plays Jeremy Langley, Olive’s former romantic interest and a close member of her academic circle.
Jeremy’s developing connection with Anh creates the misunderstanding Olive attempts to solve through her fake relationship.
Duvernay comes to the movie following appearances in The White Lotus and other television and film projects.
His casting initially generated discussion among some readers because the screen version of Jeremy does not look exactly as the character was imagined in the book. Duvernay acknowledged that longtime readers can become deeply attached to how they picture characters while expressing confidence in the finished adaptation.
Jaboukie Young-White as Malcolm Browne
Jaboukie Young-White plays Malcolm Browne, Olive’s roommate and close friend.
Malcolm is considerably less enthusiastic about Adam than Olive eventually becomes. His distrust of the professor contributes both humor and another perspective on the increasingly complicated fake relationship.
Young-White has worked across comedy, acting and writing, with credits including The Daily Show, Only Murders in the Building and The Threesome.
The Love Hypothesis also reunites him professionally with director Claire Scanlon, who previously directed the Netflix romantic comedy Set It Up.
Arty Froushan as Dr. Tom Benton
Arty Froushan plays Dr. Tom Benton, an academic colleague connected to Adam and Olive’s professional world.
Readers of Hazelwood’s novel will recognize Tom as an important figure in the later stages of Olive’s story, particularly as her research career begins intersecting more directly with opportunities outside Stanford.
Froushan’s previous credits include Daredevil: Born Again, House of the Dragon and Carnival Row.
The film keeps Tom closely connected to the academic storyline while adapting certain details of the novel for its feature-length format.
Jeananne Goossen as Dr. Juliet Aslan
Jeananne Goossen appears as Dr. Juliet Aslan, one of the faculty members within Olive’s academic environment.
Goossen has an extensive television résumé that includes The Night Shift, Nashville, Criminal Minds and NCIS.
IMDb lists the character under the fuller name Dr. Juliet Aslan, while some earlier material simply referred to her as Dr. Aslan.
Other Members of The Love Hypothesis Cast
The larger supporting cast expands the university world surrounding Olive and Adam.
Aladeen Tawfeek plays Dr. Eugene Fastuca, Kenny Wong appears as McConnell, Daniel Brochu portrays Dr. Hargrave, Alexandra Petrachuk plays Natalie Lazotti and Howard Bilerman appears as Dr. Keeney.
Together, the ensemble gives the adaptation room to preserve the workplace and academic dynamics that distinguish Hazelwood’s story from a conventional romantic comedy.
Who Directed The Love Hypothesis?
Claire Scanlon directed The Love Hypothesis.
Scanlon already has considerable experience with modern romantic comedy, most notably as the director of Netflix’s Set It Up. She has also directed episodes of television comedies including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Sarah Rothschild adapted Hazelwood’s book for the screen, while Elizabeth Cantillon is among the film’s producers. Reinhart and Hazelwood also hold producing credits on the adaptation.
The production filmed extensively in Montreal, with Reinhart and Marsh recalling interactions with students while working at a real academic location.
How Closely Does the Movie Follow the Book?
The central premise remains immediately recognizable to readers.
Olive is still a Ph.D. student whose attempt to help her best friend leads to an impulsive kiss with Adam and, eventually, a fake relationship. Anh, Jeremy, Malcolm and Tom also remain important supporting characters.
There are, however, changes associated with moving a full novel into a feature film. The adaptation introduces new scenes and adjusts some character and story details while keeping the fake-dating romance and Olive’s scientific career at its center.
Hazelwood has publicly supported the adaptation and its casting. Reinhart said the author’s positive response was particularly important to the actors because of the strong connection readers have developed with the original novel.
Where Can You Watch The Love Hypothesis?
The Love Hypothesis began streaming on Prime Video on September 23, 2026.
Prime Video describes the film as a romantic comedy centered on Olive and Adam’s mutually useful fake relationship and the unexpected chemistry that develops between them. The platform lists a runtime of approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes.
The release has already drawn substantial attention from readers who followed the adaptation from its earliest casting announcements. As of September 24, Prime Video’s U.S. listing showed the film at No. 5 on the platform, although streaming rankings can change quickly.
FAQ
Who plays Olive in The Love Hypothesis?
Lili Reinhart plays Olive Smith, a biology Ph.D. candidate whose attempt to help her best friend results in a fake relationship with professor Adam Carlsen.
Who plays Adam Carlsen?
Tom Bateman plays Dr. Adam Carlsen, the intimidating professor who agrees to pretend to date Olive.
Who plays Anh in The Love Hypothesis?
Rachel Marsh plays Anh Pham, Olive’s best friend.
Who plays Jeremy?
Nicholas Duvernay plays Jeremy Langley, Olive’s former romantic interest and the man Anh likes.
Who plays Malcolm?
Jaboukie Young-White plays Malcolm Browne, Olive’s roommate and close friend.
Who plays Tom Benton?
Arty Froushan plays Dr. Tom Benton.
Who plays Dr. Aslan?
Jeananne Goossen portrays Dr. Juliet Aslan.
When was The Love Hypothesis released?
The movie was released on Prime Video on September 23, 2026.
Who directed The Love Hypothesis?
Claire Scanlon directed the film from a screenplay written by Sarah Rothschild.
Is The Love Hypothesis based on a book?
Yes. The movie is based on Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling 2021 novel The Love Hypothesis.
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