Netflix’s movie adaptation of People We Meet On Vacation will bring beloved characters from Emily Henry’s literary universe from page to screen for the first time. Ahead of its worldwide release, the original book’s author, plus stars Tom Blyth and Emily Bader, and the film’s director, Brett Haley, all got the pleasure of sitting down with PEDESTRIAN.TV for a good old yap, where we managed to squeeze ~at least~ five litres of juicy goss outta them. Buckle up, holiday hoons, we’re going on vacation.
According to The Times, Emily Henry has sold over 10 million books, but you wouldn’t know it from her charming, down-to-earth demeanour. She has the vibe of someone you might meet in line for a Bunnings snag on a Sunday arvo.
In fact, we might not be far off this becoming a reality, with Henry confirming to PEDESTRIAN.TV’s Sweeney Preston that Australia is a top priority for settings in her future works.
“There will. I’m sure there will be an Australia book. I’m sure,” the author exclusively revealed to us (!!!).
She then explained that the reason our great nation hasn’t already received a cameo is that the author hasn’t actually made it to our shores herself.
“We’ve been brainstorming movies all week just for fun. Maybe we have an Australia movie in us,” she added, gesturing to director Brett Haley. “I don’t know how expensive it is to shoot in Australia?”
“I think we might, it’s not expensive,” Haley confirmed.
“I need to come to Dymocks,” Henry continued, shouting out one of the bookstores that no doubt has enabled her global domination to continue Down Under.
So there you have it, we might be on for a live action sequel — People We Meet On Vacation 2: Chuckin’ A Sickie For An Aussie Getaway.
Mellywood, Brissywood, Sydneywood, Tassywood, here we come!
We also made sure to ask Henry and Haley for reassurance on any potential changes to the original plotline, knowing many fans hold a deep connection to the book’s protagonists, Poppy and Alex.
“My favourite thing about this movie is that there are differences,” Henry began.
“There are added scenes, there are little alternate realities, little pocket universes — it’s like things that would have happened in the book. Now you just get more Alex and Poppy.”
“I think we were true 100 per cent to the characters and to the spirit of this book. There’s nothing for [fans] to be concerned about,” Haley offered.
“We care deeply about the readers and want them to feel seen and loved.”
Sounds good to us. Thanks, Mum and Dad!
We also had the chance to chat with Poppy and Alex themselves, played by Tom Blyth (Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and Emily Bader (My Lady Jane, Paranormal Activity) about bringing their beloved characters to life for the silver screen.
Blyth shared some surprising insight into the difficulty of playing Alex, a character who felt worlds away from his previous acting endeavours.
“I’m not going to lie, at least at the beginning, it was really tricky,” he admitted.
“It’s weirdly hard to play a standup guy… a character who was wholesome. Especially when I’ve built a career off playing morally corrupt, wicked little characters.”
However, after receiving a few pep talks from director Brett Haley, Blyth said he became exponentially more comfortable in the role. This was no doubt helped by his realisation that while Alex certainly isn’t Coriolanus Snow from the Hunger Games, he isn’t a flawless individual.
“He is not perfect. He’s grouchy, a little bit too much of a perfectionist, he doesn’t always let Poppy be Poppy,” Blyth acknowledged.
For one final hard-hitting, journalistic-integrity-filled question, we thought we’d ask the stars what sit-com their characters would binge together and why, since this would be dropping on Netflix, after all…
“Friends,” Blyth answered immediately, almost as though he’d been waiting to say it all day.
“Of course, but wouldn’t they have seen it? You think they’d go back to it?” suggested Bader.
“Alex likes creature comforts,” responded Blyth. “He’d go back to Friends and Seinfeld. Maybe The Office.”
“Scrubs! I want the doctor element,” Bader added.
Netflix’s People We Meet On Vacation drops on January 9. For all the info we currently know about the upcoming film adaptation, peep PEDESTRIAN.TV’s cast and plot wrap up.
The inevitable sequel, People We Meet On Vacation 2: Chuckin’ A Sickie For An Aussie Getaway, will drop whenever Emily Henry gets around to writing it.
The post Does ‘People We Meet On Vacation’ Differ From The Book? Emily Henry Spills The Tea appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
