THE APEX TIMES
Gavin Leatherwood Joins Nina Dobrev, Tyler Hoechlin and Virginia Gardner in New York for ‘It Happened One Summer’
The rom-com, adapted from Tessa Bailey’s 2021 novel, began production in New York with a cast mix led by Nina Dobrev and Tyler Hoechlin.
Filming has started in New York on the rom-com It Happened One Summer, with Gavin Leatherwood joining a previously announced ensemble that includes Nina Dobrev, Tyler Hoechlin and Virginia Gardner, according to Deadline.
The project is directed by Peter Hutchings. Deadline said Leatherwood, known for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, will join the cast as production gets underway in the city.
Deadline’s report also identifies the film as an adaptation of Tessa Bailey’s 2021 bestseller It Happened One Summer. The novel is described in the report as the first installment in the Bellinger series, setting up the movie’s relationship story for viewers familiar with the books.
The cast announcements place Dobrev, Hoechlin and Gardner alongside Leatherwood as filming begins, adding to the already public lineup ahead of the movie’s release. The production’s location in New York is also part of the current status update, with the report describing filming as underway in the city.
No production dates for a release window were included in the Deadline report, and no additional plot specifics beyond the source-material connection were provided. The report framed the casting news as part of the ramp-up for principal photography.
In parallel with filming starts, casting additions like Leatherwood can affect scheduling for principal photography and promotional plans as production moves from preproduction into the shooting phase. For industry observers, the timing of announcements during an active production window is often used to report momentum on both creative and logistical fronts.
Deadline’s update did not describe filming permits, production timelines beyond the start of shooting, or any changes to the underlying creative team beyond the newly noted cast join.
The film’s continued development will depend on the usual postproduction steps after filming wraps, including editing, music and sound work, and distribution preparations once production completes its New York phase.
Why It Matters
- The start of filming in New York indicates the production has moved into its main shooting phase, which can accelerate downstream postproduction planning.
- Casting announcements during active production can affect scheduling and coordination across departments tied to principal photography and set production.
- Adapting a recent best-selling novel may shape audience expectations tied to the source material and influence marketing and distribution positioning.
- Because the project is tied to a known literary property, the accuracy of adaptation and faithfulness to the book’s premise can remain a central factor for readers and general audiences as the film progresses.
Sources
Key Facts
- Gavin Leatherwood has joined the previously announced cast of the rom-com It Happened One Summer.
- Filming for It Happened One Summer is underway in New York.
- The film’s cast also includes Nina Dobrev, Tyler Hoechlin, and Virginia Gardner.
- It Happened One Summer is directed by Peter Hutchings.
- The movie is adapted from Tessa Bailey’s 2021 bestseller It Happened One Summer.
- Deadline describes the book as the first installment in the Bellinger series.