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Like many popular romance novels, Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis started as a fanfiction. Hazelwood's STEM romance certainly had humble beginnings. The book began as a Star Wars Reylo (the ship between Daisy Ridley's Rey and Adam Driver's Kylo Ren in the movies) fanfiction titled Head Over Feet, became a New York Times best-selling novel upon its official release and is getting a Prime Video adaptation starring Tom Bateman and Lili Reinhart.
While some chronically online fans might know The Love Hypothesis' Star Wars lore, the upcoming adaptation gives a subtle nod to its Reylo roots through Bateman's casting.
Olive and Adam, the lead pair in The Love Hypothesis, were originally modeled after Rey and Kylo from Star Wars. While that ship had a tragic conclusion in Star Wars, Hazelwood immortalized their potential romance in her novel, which is ready to hit Prime Video. What's interesting about Bateman's casting is that he is Ridley's real-life husband, which has fans speculating about this casting coincidence.
One curious fan wrote on Reddit:
"....they did the second funniest thing, lol okay, i respect it. This must be so incredibly funny to Ali Hazelwood. Life is so beautifully absurd sometimes."
Fans are exploring The Love Hypothesis-Star Wars connection
In Prime Video's upcoming The Love Hypothesis, Tom Bateman plays Dr. Adam Carlsen, a young yet intimidating biology professor who agrees to enter into a fake dating agreement with Olive Smith, a third-year biology PhD student at Stanford University.
In a full-circle moment, Bateman stars in a romance that originally began as a fanfiction for a character played by his real-life wife. It seems the casting was unintentional, as Bateman was not aware of his upcoming movie's Reylo roots. In an interview with ScreenRant, Bateman revealed that both he and Ridley were unaware of this Reylo fanfiction:
"I wasn't aware of it, and neither was Dais, of this connection. I was told it after I was offered the job. They said, “By the way, this is loosely where the inspiration came from, and I thought that meant that was what inspired Ali Hazelwood to start writing, because the book is obviously so different from anything."
While The Love Hypothesis was initially a Reylo fanfiction, all explicit Star Wars references were cut and the main characters were renamed when the book was published in 2021. However, as a subtle nod to Driver's character, the main lead (Adam Carlsen) was renamed after him. Additionally, the characters on the novel's cover illustration were designed after Driver and Daisy Ridley.
Prime Video's upcoming adaptation seems determined to honour its Reylo roots and Bateman's casting is the biggest proof. Fans certainly approve of this casting as one user wrote on Reddit:
"Genuinely I’m impressed, what diva is casting this film?? I just KNOW I need to follow them on twitter if they’re operating at this level of chronically online wit."
Some seasoned readers were baffled by this connection and are already excited to watch Bateman's take on the character:
"I didn’t think I could be more seated but I somehow am. Again: I will be there no matter what." wrote another user on Reddit.
The latter two films in the Star Wars sequel trilogy explored the complicated relationship between Rey and Kylo, which had many fans rooting for them. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker saw Kylo using the Force to save Rey's life after she fell in their fight against Emperor Palpatine. While the pair confirmed their deep connection with a kiss, Kylo passed away and became one with the Force, leaving Rey alone.
While that was the end for Reylo in Star Wars, fans are not over this ship and such fanfiction is proof.
With The Love Hypothesis premiering on Prime Video on September 23, fans will get to witness a version of Reylo romance through Olive and Adam.
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