Netflix Casts Beatrice Kitsos and David Iacono as Liz and Wes in Better Than the Movies

Netflix has found the two stars at the center of Better Than the Movies. Beatrice Kitsos will play Liz Buxbaum and David Iacono will portray Wes Bennett in the streaming service’s upcoming feature adaptation of Lynn Painter’s bestselling young adult romance, Netflix confirmed on July 31.

The Better Than the Movies Netflix cast announcement moves the project beyond the development stage that was revealed earlier this year. According to Netflix’s official Tudum announcement, Kitsos and Iacono secured the roles following a talent search accompanied by extensive fan casting around the popular book.

Beatrice Kitsos and David Iacono will play Liz and Wes

Kitsos has been cast as Liz Buxbaum, the high school senior whose affection for romantic comedies shapes the way she approaches relationships and her own expectations about love. Iacono will play Wes Bennett, Liz’s next-door neighbor and longtime source of irritation who becomes central to her attempt to attract the attention of another boy.

Netflix describes the film as a love letter to romantic comedies that uses familiar genre devices including fake relationships, enemies-to-lovers dynamics and the boy-next-door setup while building its story around Liz and Wes.

The casting is notable in part because readers have spent years proposing actors for the two characters online. Netflix said Kitsos herself had publicly expressed interest in auditioning for the adaptation before landing the role.

Iacono has appeared in projects including Jurassic World Rebirth and is familiar to young audiences from The Summer I Turned Pretty. Kitsos has appeared in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Their selection gives Netflix two younger performers to anchor a story whose existing audience was built largely through YA readership and online book communities.

The movie is based on Lynn Painter’s bestselling romance

Better Than the Movies was originally published by Simon & Schuster in 2021. The publisher’s official page for the novel describes the story as a teen romantic comedy centered on Liz, a devoted rom-com fan who enlists Wes to help her win the attention of longtime crush Michael.

The plan becomes more complicated as Liz and Wes spend more time together, forcing Liz to reconsider the version of romance she has imagined against what is actually developing in her life.

The novel later became particularly visible through BookTok and developed a sustained readership beyond its initial release. Netflix said in its July 31 announcement that the book has reached No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list and had appeared on the publication’s monthly YA paperback list for 44 months at the time of the casting announcement.

Painter expanded the story with the sequel Nothing Like the Movies, published in 2024. Netflix has not announced whether that book is included in any broader adaptation plans.

Julia Hart is directing the Netflix adaptation

Julia Hart is directing Better Than the Movies and is also a co-writer on the screenplay alongside Jordan Horowitz and Heather Flanders. Netflix lists Horowitz as a producer through Original Headquarters, with Shauna Phelan and Melanie Krauss also producing.

Hart’s involvement in the project was reported when the adaptation was first revealed in May. Kirkus Reviews reported on the film’s development at the time, noting that Hart would direct and that she, Horowitz and Flanders were writing the adaptation.

The project also extends Hart and Horowitz’s relationship with Netflix. The company said Better Than the Movies is the second Original Headquarters project at the service following the YA film Don’t Say Good Luck.

The casting brings one of BookTok’s romance favorites closer to the screen

The decision to reveal Liz and Wes is a meaningful step for an adaptation that arrives with a substantial preexisting audience. Online reader communities have become an increasingly visible part of the development cycle for romance adaptations, particularly when recognizable characters inspire years of fan casting before a studio makes official choices.

In this case, some of that speculation anticipated the eventual casting. Earlier coverage of possible actors for the adaptation included both Kitsos and Iacono among names readers had suggested, although those fan selections were never confirmation of studio decisions.

Netflix’s announcement now settles the two central roles while leaving several major production details unanswered. No release date has been announced, and Netflix has not yet revealed a complete supporting cast.

The company also has not announced when audiences will see a first trailer or images of Kitsos and Iacono in character. Those updates will likely define the next stage of the film’s rollout, but no timetable has been confirmed.

For now, the most consequential question surrounding Better Than the Movies has been answered. Liz and Wes are officially moving from the page to Netflix with Kitsos and Iacono leading the adaptation.

About the author

Jonas Muthoni

Jonas Muthoni is the Editor at The Showbiz Journal, where he curates and oversees engaging content across the lifestyle, entertainment, and celebrity news landscape. With a sharp eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of pop culture trends, Jonas brings fresh, authentic perspectives to the publication. His editorial work reflects a passion for uncovering unique voices and spotlighting the moments that shape the world of entertainment.