Tom Bateman has officially joined the cast of The Love Hypothesis opposite Lili Reinhart, bringing the bestselling romance novel by Ali Hazelwood to life for Amazon MGM.
He’ll be portraying Adam Carlsen, a professor who finds himself in a chaotic fake relationship with PhD candidate Olive Smith (played by Reinhart) in a bid to convince her friends she has a successful love life.
Originally written as Star Wars fanfiction, the 2021 novel shot up the New York Times’ bestseller list when author Hazelwood reimagined the steamy rom-com with a scientific twist.
In a stunning coincidence – or perhaps a genius bit of casting – Bateman is, in fact, the husband of Daisy Ridley, whose character Rey inspired the fanfiction along with her rival-turned-love interest Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
With the casting causing a buzz online, let’s take a closer look at Ridley’s real-life marriage to her Love Hypothesis star husband.
Ridley and Bateman met on the set of their 2017 film The Murder on the Orient Express, although they kept details of their romance out of the public eye.
Both the actors kept hush about their love lives, although producer for the film Judy Hofflund caused a stir when she hinted sparks were flying at the film’s premiere.
“Something kinda happened with Tom and Daisy right?” she teased. “That’s public news. I should keep my mouth shut. Oh well.”
They both continued to stay silent on their private lives until reports surfaced in February 2019 that they had rented an apartment together in Primrose Hill, London.
Ridley was then spotted wearing an engagement ring later that year, though still denied a relationship with Bateman, even shutting down Marie Curie when they asked if it was indeed an engagement ring.
Finally, in January 2023, Ridley confirmed her marriage in an interview with Rolling Stone, though didn’t provide any details.
However, while they keep their personal life out of the media, the famous pair aren’t afraid of putting their marriage front and centre for their own projects.
They recently collaborated for the 2024 thriller Magpie, written and produced by Bateman and directed by Sam Yates, based on a story concept by Ridley herself.
It follows a marriage that begins to unravel when the couple’s daughter, an actress, stars in a film alongside a popular movie star. Ridley portrays wife Anette, whose husband Ben (Shazad Latif) finds himself falling for his daughter’s co-star.
The Star Wars actress has stressed the dark thriller is in no way based on her own marriage to Bateman.
Chatting to USA Today’s Ralphie Aversa, she said: “I feel like I must assure people that this is not a reflection of our marriage.
“I think you have to be in a very good marriage in order to make a film about a not very good marriage.”
She went on to describe the creative process as “revealing” and an “amazing endeavour”.
Fans have likened the thriller to Gone Girl and claimed Ridley gives one of her best performances, though sadly it has yet to be released in the UK.
Will Ridley and Bateman collaborate again in the future? Keep your eyes peeled.
The Love Hypothesis does not yet have a release date.