Nina Dobrev leads ‘It Happened One Summer’ movie with Tyler Hoechlin and Virginia Gardner

Nina Dobrev, Tyler Hoechlin and Virginia Gardner will star together in a movie, based on Tessa Bailey’s hit novel.

Romantic comedy fans are getting a new big-screen adaptation as It Happened One Summer moves into production with Nina Dobrev, Tyler Hoechlin and Virginia Gardner confirmed to star. The film is based on the bestselling novel by Tessa Bailey, which became a viral favourite on BookTok with more than 235 million hashtag views and a devoted online following that helped it remain on bestseller lists for months.

Peter Hutchings, best known for directing The Hating Game, is set to helm the project, working from a screenplay by Christina Mengert and Joseph Muszynski. Producers Claude Dal Farra and Brian Keady of BCDF Pictures are leading the production, with Bailey herself joining as an executive producer alongside Lisa Berger and Samantha Martin of Frolic Media. Embankment Films is managing worldwide sales, ensuring the project has a global reach from the outset.

The story centres on Piper Bellinger, a glamorous Los Angeles It Girl who sees her world collapse after a viral scandal leaves her cancelled and cut off from her family’s wealth. Forced to rebuild her life, Piper is sent to a remote fishing town where she must restore her late father’s dive bar. There she clashes with Brendan, a gruff sea captain who has no patience for influencers, yet slowly proves to be exactly what she needs. The premise mixes sharp humour with heartfelt romance, a formula that has resonated strongly with readers.

Producer Claude Dal Farra called the novel a modern classic of the genre, citing its wit and emotional honesty. Bailey herself expressed excitement over the casting, calling Dobrev, Hoechlin and Gardner a “dream team”. Dobrev’s recent work in action thrillers, Hoechlin’s experience as Superman in Superman & Lois, and Gardner’s growing list of rom-com credits suggest a cast well-suited to balance the story’s comedy and sincerity.

With BookTok readers eager to see Piper and Brendan’s story come to life, and with a creative team that has already found success adapting romance for the screen, It Happened One Summer is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated rom-com releases in development.