Book to Screen
‘Twisted Love’ Dream Cast: Our Picks for Ava, Alex & More ‘Twisted’ Couples
BookTok’s steamy billionaire romance, Twisted Love by Ana Huang, is officially coming to Netflix! If you’re anything like us, you probably accidentally chucked your phone across the room or (at the very least) screamed with excitement when the news dropped. But that feeling, of course, quickly faded into complete and utter fear upon realizing that the fate of our beloved series was in the hands of casting directors.
The Twisted series consists of four books, each following a new couple, beginning with Ava Chen, an optimistic college student with a traumatic past that she can’t quite seem to remember, and Alex Volkov, a billionaire with an icy exterior, who just happens to be her brother’s best friend. Throughout the series, Ava and her friends venture from college to adult life, finding heartbreak, love, and more steamy moments than one could possibly imagine (think Tell Me Lies for vibes and Bridgerton for spice). For those who have yet to jump into the Ana Huang Universe, be warned it’s not for the faint of heart. The blush-worthy series is riddled with content warnings ranging from aquaphobia to a “morally gray alpha hero.”
As we eagerly await Netflix’s official cast announcement, we couldn’t help but dream up a cast that we would love to see portray the Twisted couples. Read on to see the actors and actresses that we envision at Thayer University, Eldorra, and beyond!
Does our dream cast make you Swooon? Comment below with who you would cast in the Twisted Love TV series!
Michelle Mao as Ava Chen
If anyone could melt a heart of ice it’s Ava Chen, the leading lady of Twisted Love. Ava is described a free-spirit whose innocent, sunny disposition has her brother convinced he needs his cunning best friend to effectively babysit her while he’s abroad. Michelle Mao, who was recently cast in Bridgerton Season 4, is no stranger to sibling drama or steamy romance. From her Instagram aesthetic to her emotional indie performances, we believe Mao is perfectly suited to bring Ava to life.
Thomas Doherty as Alex Volkov
Casting Alex Volkov, the devilish billionaire at the heart of Twisted Love, could be the decision that makes or breaks the adaptation. However, upon a thorough search through Hollywood’s heartthrobs, we can proudly say we’ve found the guy for the job. We already know that Thomas Doherty, who recently starred in Tell Me Lies Season 2, can serve dark romance like no one’s business. But, the fun fact that completely sold us on this casting was Doherty’s singing chops, which (iykyk) is imperative to the Alex Volkov experience.
Kaitlyn Dever as Bridget von Ascheberg
Step aside Mia Thermopolis, a new princess of a fictitious European country has come to town. We first meet Princess Bridget von Ascheberg of Eldorra in Twisted Love, dodging her stringent bodyguard to hang out with Ava. Much like Anne Hathaway circa 2001, we needed to find an actress who can portray both a strong-willed student and a sophisticated royal. From her confidence to her comedic timing, we believe Kaitlyn Dever, best known for Booksmart, is perfectly suited for this challenge.
Kieron Moore as Rhys Larsen
Rhys Larsen may be the epitome of “looks like they could kill you but is actually a cinnamon roll.” As Bridget’s bodyguard, Rhys closely shadows our main girlies, while growing closer to the princess behind closed doors. If you haven’t seen Vampire Academy, you may not know the indescribable level of sexual tension that Kieron Moore can bring to a slow burn romance, but trust us when we say Moore’s take on Twisted Games would have audiences genuinely squealing.
Rachel Stubington as Jules Ambrose
Jules might be a hard pill to swallow for some (we’re looking at you, Josh), but if there’s one thing you should know about Ava’s fiery, redheaded roommate, it’s that we loved her right from the start. That’s why we’re placing Jules in the hands of Rachel Stubington, who won our hearts as Alice’s best friend, Summer, in Shrinking. We can safely say that Stubington has the spunk needed to play Ava’s outgoing best friend and Josh’s formidable adversary. Without a doubt, it’s Stubington who will have us Swooon-ing as enemies become lovers.
Alex Landi as Josh Chen
Almost everyone on BookTok has fancast Alex Landi as Josh Chen, and we are proud to jump on that bandwagon. Aside from already knowing that the Grey’s Anatomy star can rock a pair of scrubs, the rise and fall of Nico’s relationship on Grey’s certainly proved to us that Landi has the versatility to portray both sides of an enemies-to-lovers arc. While everyone is definitely Team Josh by the end of the series, wouldn’t it be fun to love to hate the character, even if it’s just for a little while?
Brittany O'Grady as Stella Alonso
Twisted Lies finds Stella, the last Twisted heroine to get the main character treatment, in a predicament that can only be solved with a fake boyfriend. Relatable, right? While balancing the anxiety of a faux relationship with Stella’s incomparable warmth is no easy task, we believe we’ve found the perfect actress to do so. Enter Brittany O’Grady, whose Swooon-worthy performance in The White Lotus Season 1 had us begging for more. Proven to shine as both a member of an ensemble and as a leading lady (anyone remember Little Voice?), we believe O’Grady would perfectly round out Ava’s friend group.
Regé-Jean Page as Christian Harper
Ever since his Duke days, Bridgerton Season 1 star Regé-Jean Page has held a special place in our hearts. While he might not be the most accurate choice for Christian, based solely on looks, we need you to hear us out when we say that Page has the facial symmetry and *exact* energy needed to fill Christian’s wildly expensive loafers. As CEO of Harper Security, our Christian needs to be equal parts sexy and terrifying. Since Page set the blueprint for Netflix’s beautiful, brooding beaus, we believe that playing Christian would certainly deliver us the Regé-issance we have all been waiting for.
