EXCLUSIVE: Andie MacDowell and Kevin Bacon have joined the cast of Beach Read, 20th Century Studios‘ adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel from Emily Henry. Phoebe Dynevor and Patrick Schwarzenegger currently star with production set to start next month.

Published in 2020, Beach Read is a romantic comedy following January Andrews, a successful romance novelist who struggles with grief and writer’s block after her father’s death and the discovery of secrets he’s long kept hidden. While spending the summer in his Michigan beach house to prepare it for sale, she unexpectedly reconnects with Gus Everett, an author who was once her rival in college. Both creatively stuck, they agree to a writing challenge over the summer, swapping literary genres while promising that there will be no romance between them. Of course, you know what they say about the best-laid plans.

Yulin Kuang, the co-writer of Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation — another Henry adaptation — is directing the feature take from her own script, with Neal H. Moritz producing via his Original Films. Karina Rahardja will exec produce. Sarah Shepard and Catherine Hughes are overseeing for 20th. The literary affairs team, led by Clare Reeth, spearheaded efforts to land rights to the book.

Best known for his acclaimed performances in Footloose, A Few Good Men, Mystic River, and The Following the Golden Globe winner and Primetime Emmy nominee most recent credits include Leave the World Behind,  MaXXXine and the upcoming Family Movie. Golden Globe winner and Primetime Emmy nominee, Bacon’s most recent credits include Leave the World Behind, MaXXXine, and Family Movie. Bacon is represented by MGMT Entertainment.

MacDowell is known for her acclaimed roles in Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Groundhog Day, Green Card, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. A multiple Golden Globe Award nominee, she recently received praise for her performance in the series “Maid”, with other recent credits including My Happy Ending, Searchlight’s Ready or Not, and her smash hit Hallmark Channel series “The Way Home” which is currently airing its fourth and final season. MacDowell is represented by the Gersh Agency and RMS Productions.

RELATED: Which Emily Henry Books Are Becoming Movies? ‘Happy Place,’ ‘Book Lovers,’ Among Others