They set dating rumors flying after posing together in a fun St. Patrick’s Day post earlier this month.
And now Paul Mescal and Ayo Edebiri are again the source of social media rumors after fans began speculating that they might star together in a romantic comedy adapted from an Emily Henry novel.
And now the author is fueling fan hopes by weighing in on the possibility of the buzzy actors, who are both 28, joining forces to bring one of her novels to life.
‘I can’t confirm or deny anything with casting for any movie,’ she told Variety.
‘I will say that those are two of my favorite “Irish” actors,’ King added, referencing an online joke that Edebiri, who was born in the US to Barbadian and Nigerian parents, is Irish.
Rumors have been flying on social media that Paul Mescal and Ayo Edebiri (pictured March 4 in Santa Monica) might star in a rom-com adaptation of an Emily Henry novel in recent days
Henry told Variety she ‘can’t confirm or deny’ if a film is in the works, though she admitted that the stars could lead any of her three film adaptations currently in the works
However, it didn’t appear to be the first time that Henry had considered Mescal and Edebiri as potential stars of an adaptation of one of her novels.
When asked if the two stars would be strong leads for potential adaptations, she answered, ‘I do. I think that they would be amazing.
‘I actually saw them being discussed [online] for several different roles — and I definitely have a favorite,’ Henry admitted. ‘But it’s fun, because different adaptations would either have one of them playing to type, or one of those adaptations would have them both playing to type, and one of them would have them both playing against type.
‘It’s an interesting thing. I mean, they’re great, they could do anything,’ she added.
Although finalized screenplays for adaptations of her novels Beach Read, People We Meet On Vacation and Book Lovers have reportedly not been completed yet, she said she hopes that ‘there’ll be stuff to talk about really soon.’
The rumors that the Aftersun star and the Bear actress might work together on an Emily Henry adaptation appear to have spread after the author and others connected to her work shared the photo of the two hanging out on St. Patrick’s Day.
Henry shared the photo after Edebiri originally posted it, and then the screenwriter Yulin Kuang also reposted it.
Kuang is currently at work writing an adaptation of People We Meet On Vacation, and she is also set to write and direct a version of Beach Read.
Fans became convinced of the rumored project after Henry and Yulin Kuang, who is adapting two of her novels for the screen, both reposted a photo of Mescal and Edebiri hanging out on St. Patrick’s Day
Despite the lack of confirmation, fans couldn’t contain their excitement on X (formerly Twitter)
Another person joked that the stars appearing in a Beach Read adaptation would ‘ACTUALLY save lives (mine)’
Another user joked that they were ‘re-reading all my Emily Henry books’ in preparation for a possible adaption with Mescal and Edebiri
One fan was convinced that Mescal would be perfect as the character Gus in Henry’s Beach Read
Others thought Henry’s lack of confirmation was just a smoke screen
Fans also became convinced that the two might star in an adaptation of Henry’s Book Lovers for somewhat more tangential reasons, as Tango, a studio that produced Mescal’s Oscar-nominated drama Aftersun, is also producing an upcoming film from the novel.
Fans were also primed to expect a collaboration from the acclaimed actors after Mescal told Awards Watch in November 2023 that he gave himself the ‘challenge to do maybe like a rom-com with Ayo.’
Despite the lack of confirmation, fans couldn’t contain their excitement on X (formerly Twitter).
‘Paul Mescal in an Emily Henry adaptation would literally save my life,’ one person gushed.
Another person joked that the stars appearing in a Beach Read adaptation would ‘ACTUALLY save lives (mine).’
Another user joked that they were ‘re-reading all my Emily Henry books’ in preparation for a possible adaption with Mescal and Edebiri.
One fan was convinced that Mescal would be perfect as the character Gus in Henry’s Beach Read.
However, not all X users were on board with the project, with one person sarcastically saying that Henry’s novels weren’t prestigious enough for the acclaimed stars.
‘Yes emmy winner ayo edebiri and oscar nominee paul mescal will of course be in an adaptation of an emily henry book, the prestige vehicle they’ve been searching for,’ read one sarcastic post.
Another person referenced jokes about Edebiri’s Irish heritage while praying that she would be saved from the romance novelist’s work.
However, not all X users were on board with the project, with one person sarcastically saying that Henry’s novels weren’t prestigious enough for the acclaimed stars
Another person referenced jokes about Edebiri being ‘Irish’ while praying that she would be saved from ‘an emily henry romcom’
Edebiri is currently at work filming season three of The Bear with her costar Jeremy Allen White; seen January 15 in LA
‘Dear irish catholic jesus please protect ayo edebiri from an emily henry romcom,’ they wrote.
Edebiri is currently at work filming season three of The Bear with her costar Jeremy Allen White.
Despite the dating rumors that spread after her St. Patrick’s Day photo with Mescal, a source told People that the two are ‘just friends.’
She has most recently been linked to the writer and actor Colin Burgess, though they have kept their relationship under the radar.