Ana Huang is giving the first update on casting the Netflix show adapted from her popular “Twisted” romance book series, which kicked off with “Twisted Love” in 2021.
While the casting process is still in “early days,” Huang has had many discussions with the collaborative team at Netflix. And she knows the pressure is high.
“Yes, we do want people who look like the characters, obviously, they should fit like that. But it is a romance series and I think what is the most important to me is that there is chemistry between the characters,” Huang tells Tommy DiDario on his “I’ve Never Said This Before with Tommy DiDario” podcast in an episode that drops Tuesday. “There’s an argument to be made for finding fresh faces as well.”
Netflix picked up the rights to adapt her novel “Twisted Love” and its sequels into a TV series through a seven-figure option deal, as Variety exclusively reported back in January. To date, the four books have collectively sold more than 12 million copies.
“My fans are passionate and they are so excited, but they also have a lot of ideas about who they feel should play the cast or how things should go,” Huang said. “So I kind of have to toe that line of keeping the story true to the heart … but also recognizing that it does have to change once it gets adapted.”
With the viral nature of her series on TikTok, Huang has already come across much casting speculation.
“There’s so many rumors swirling around and every couple of months, there’ll be a new rumor,” Huang said. “So I continually tell [fans] that unless I announce it from my official accounts, nothing has been set yet.”
When asked about potential book follow-ups after the release of the series final book, “Twisted Lies,” in 2022, Huang said that for now, it’s a “maybe.” So more books aren’t out of the question.
“I don’t want to promise anything — I won’t say no. Like, if I do, it will probably be some sort of epilogue novel,” Huang added.
Watch a clip of Huang discussing the “Twisted Love” TV series during Tuesday’s episode of “I’ve Never Said This Before with Tommy DiDario” in the video above.
