The Love Hypothesis is Becoming a Movie—and I’m Here for It

When The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood hit shelves in 2021, it was instantly everywhere. BookTok couldn’t stop talking about it, readers were swooning over Adam Carlsen, and suddenly everyone wanted more romance set in academia. I was one of those readers who tore through it in a weekend, laughing at Olive’s awkward charm and highlighting every sharp one-liner. From the beginning, it always felt like a story made for the screen.

Now, the adaptation is officially happening.

From Fanfiction to Bestseller

One of the most fascinating things about The Love Hypothesis is its origin story. Before it became a polished, published romance, it started as a Star Wars fanfiction. More specifically, it was a “Reylo” fic—centered on Rey and Kylo Ren. Ali Hazelwood originally shared it online, writing her version of a grumpy, morally gray man falling for an earnest, determined young woman.

When Hazelwood adapted the story into The Love Hypothesis, she reimagined Rey as Olive, a PhD candidate navigating academia, and Kylo Ren as Adam, the grumpy but brilliant professor. The bones of the original fanfic stayed the same: sharp banter, undeniable chemistry, and a relationship that grows through reluctant proximity. What once lived on the internet for free transformed into a debut novel that sold over a million copies worldwide and made Hazelwood one of the biggest names in romance today.

The Bigger World of Fanfiction

The fact that The Love Hypothesis began as fanfiction is more than just a fun fact—it’s a window into an entire community that often works behind the scenes. Fanfiction is its own world, with writers creating stories inspired by existing characters, universes, and tropes. It’s a space where creativity is endless, where stories can explore “what if” scenarios that the original creators never touched.

For many readers, fanfiction is their first introduction to romance storytelling. It’s where you’ll find beloved tropes like enemies to lovers, fake dating, or secret relationships, often written with a rawness and passion that makes them addictive. Entire fandoms thrive on these stories, and it’s not unusual for fic writers to transition into published authors. Hazelwood is part of a long line of writers who took that leap, but she certainly won’t be the last.

What makes fanfiction special is that it’s community-driven. Readers and writers interact in real time, shaping stories together and building relationships around their favorite characters. In that way, The Love Hypothesis isn’t just a book—it’s a success story born out of the collaborative spirit of fandom.

Who’s Bringing It to Life

The movie is already in production, with Lili Reinhart stepping into Olive’s Converse sneakers and Tom Bateman cast as the stoic Adam Carlsen. Reinhart isn’t just starring, she’s also an executive producer, which shows how invested she is in bringing Olive to life.

Behind the camera, Claire Scanlon is directing. If you’ve seen Set It Up, you know she has a knack for delivering feel-good, clever rom-coms. Sarah Rothschild, known for The Sleepover, is writing the screenplay. Together, this creative team feels like the right balance of humor, intelligence, and heart to match Hazelwood’s tone.

Why the Hype is Real

It’s not just about Olive and Adam. This story resonates because of what it represents: women in STEM, the struggle to be taken seriously, friendships that keep you afloat, and the unexpected tenderness that grows out of fake dating. Seeing all of that play out on screen feels like a win not only for Hazelwood but for readers who want to see smarter, quirkier romance stories told in Hollywood.

And yes, fans are already analyzing the chemistry between Reinhart and Bateman after that behind-the-scenes video of the “one-hand lift” went viral. If that’s any indication of what’s to come, the slow-burn tension is going to be worth the wait.

When Can We Watch It?

Filming is happening now in Montreal, which is standing in for Stanford University. There isn’t a confirmed release date yet, but a 2026 premiere seems likely. With each new on-set photo, anticipation grows, and it’s clear this adaptation is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about rom-com releases in years.

Read Next: If You Loved The Love Hypothesis

While we wait for Olive and Adam to hit the screen, here are a few romance novels with a similar vibe:

• Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood – Another STEM romance with Hazelwood’s signature humor and swoon-worthy academic tension.

• The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – A fake-dating romance with heart, featuring a neurodiverse heroine and a male escort with surprising depth.

• Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman – A witty romance about a journalist who reconnects with a Hollywood star a decade after their first interview.

• Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter – A YA take on the rom-com formula with laugh-out-loud banter and movie-worthy moments.

• The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas – Another fan-favorite fake-dating romance with plenty of slow-burn payoff.

Why I’m Personally Excited

As someone who has spent more late nights than I can count scrolling through fanfiction archives, I love that this movie is a reminder of where some of our best stories come from.

Fanfic often gets dismissed, but it’s where writers experiment, readers discover new favorites, and communities form around shared love of characters. Watching The Love Hypothesis evolve from that world into a bestselling novel and now a film feels like a win for every reader who has ever whispered, “what if” while diving into a fic. And I can’t wait to see it all play out on screen.