Chemistry is vital in any romantic comedy, especially when the premise relies on two tired genre formulas: a significant age gap and a union between a celebrity and a regular person.
- Advertisement -
In less capable hands, the story of a 24-year-old pop star and a 40-year-old single mother might’ve felt forced, but the two stars discover new life in a tried-and-tested idea. The meet-cute is pitch-perfect (Selene stumbles in Hayes’ trailer to use his bathroom), yet the film shines because it doesn’t bother with lazy tropes.
Hathaway’s Selene isn’t a sad single mum who needs saving – she owns a cool art gallery in Downton, LA – meanwhile, Galitzine’s Hayes is keenly aware that being a pretty face is temporary.
“The chemistry was instant.” Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway in The Idea of You.
- Advertisement -
Separately, they’re both perfectly likeable, but together, they’re electric. “The whole movie hinges on chemistry, and we instantly connected during the audition; we’re just quite similar people,” says Galitzine.
“We spent so long texting before production, so by the time we started filming, there was a vibe on set between us.”
The Idea of You premiered at South by Southwest on March 16 but will get its official global release on Prime Video on May 2. While there are no box office numbers to marvel over, the trailer has clocked 125 million views across all social media platforms, breaking the record for the most watched trailer for any original streaming movie.
- Advertisement -
It should come as little surprise that the film is being mentioned in the same breath as Sydney Sweeney’s Anyone But You ($330 million at the global box office) as part of the much-discussed rom-com renaissance.
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in the romcom Anyone But You. The film has become a global box office hit.
The timing couldn’t be better for Galitzine, whose credits also boast rom-coms like Red, White & Royal Blue and Netflix filler Purple Hearts (the seventh most popular Netflix movie ever).
- Advertisement -
“I like that rom-coms are having this renaissance; people are being reminded that there is value in the genre and that it’s a nice feeling to be emotionally affected by a film while also having a good time instead of just seeing another superhero movie,” he says.
- Advertisement -
“I was speaking to [actor] David Oyelowo recently; he is in a Western series right now, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and I was saying how much I want to do a Western, and he was like, ‘Nicholas, I want to do romantic comedies!’”
History tells us that Galitzine won’t remain a romantic lead for long, like Jacob Elordi before him (and Robert Pattinson before him); the path from heartthrob to serious actor is well-trodden.
Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine in Mary & George.Credit: Sky/Binge
“The success of the last year has given me a bit more agency,” he admits. “I’m quite interested in doing an independent film next; I want to challenge myself because I am aware that nothing is a given; there are many talented people in this industry who will never get a shot, so you can’t get complacent.”
For what it’s worth, Galitzine seems the opposite of complacent. He is quick to point out that only a few years ago, he was still working a variety of part-time jobs, from retail assistant to frozen yoghurt shop employee.
“I’ve been doing this for ten years, and it wasn’t until my fifth credit that I got to retire from my part-time work and become a professional actor,” he says.
“It sounds cliché, but that’s why whenever I’m on set with these incredible actors—Anne and Julianne—people with Academy Awards—I operate with a level of gratitude that I’m very lucky to be where I am.”
And let’s not forget, Arsenal are top of the league. Seems life is pretty good? “That’s nothing to do with luck, mate.”
The Idea of You will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video from May 2.
