Rebecca Ross’s beloved fantasy romance novel Divine Rivals is getting a live adaptation under Paramount! We personally cannot wait to see this world divided by godly turmoil, beautifully narrated by journalists Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt, brought to life. And we can’t wait to meet the family and friends, with whom they bond throughout the story.
This was one of those times in life when we were unable to put the book down. We finished the whole thing in one day. That’s how good it was. Which means we’ve been thinking non-stop about possible casting since this announcement was released.
Some of our picks are supported by the fandom and are popular choices to land these main roles. However, as much as we love to support what the fandom wants, we have other choices to bring to the table of discussion. Having variety is important to us. Because embodying these characters’ hearts and personalities should be worth more than exact matches to physical description. And we believe any of these actors can be a match to these characters. From new yet recognizable faces to Hollywood gems we’d like to see on the big screen, here’s our casting ideas for the characters of Paramount’s Divine Rivals.
Our Top 3 Choices for Iris Winnow
- Ruby Stokes
- Taylor Russell
- Emily Bader
Ruby Stokes, well known for her role in Netflix’s Lockwood and Co, has been the most popular casting by fans on social media. Not only does she have a teen fantasy series under her belt, but she already has a fan base dedicated to bringing her back into the light with co-star Cameron Chapman. Her experience in the genre, bond with Chapman, who fans also want to see as Roman, and acting skill at a young age would set the show up for success.
Taylor Russell, as seen alongside Timotheé Chalamet in Bones and All, would be our next Iris hopeful in Paramount’s Divine Rivals. She has a talent for displaying a softness that holds strength, which is exactly what Iris is to us as readers. Russell isn’t afraid to take risks and tell impactful stories. While not as popular as the others or well-known in mainstream film, we think she’d be a great choice in showing Iris’s fight to survive.
Emily Bader, loved for Amazon’s My Lady Jane and the upcoming Emily Henry’s ‘The People We Meet on Vacation’ adaptation, is our final pick for Iris. Her experience in the romance genre as someone who can be vulnerable with another person on screen is special. Bader already knows how to fake falling in love with an ease that feels natural to audiences. We think she’d get a moment to shine in playing a character like Iris. She’d get to tune into her emotions even more than she already has in previous projects. Her rising popularity would skyrocket leading another romance film.
Wolfgang Novogratz as Forest Winnow
Although we hear stories about Forest from his younger sister Iris in the book, we don’t see his face. Iris spends most of the book trying to reach out and talk to Forest, who is away on deployment. We believe that giving Wolfgang, an actor in Netflix films like Feel the Beat, could bring his charm and warmth to a character like Forest. He just looks like he could be a charming older brother with a good heart who loves his sister. That’s who Forest is to us. Forest may be a side character, but he means a lot to Iris. Wolfgang could showcase his skills in this breakout role for him.
MORE: Read our review of Ginny and Georgia Season 3 here!
Our Top 3 Choices for Roman Carver Kitt
- Cameron Chapman
- Jonah Hauer-King
- Kyle Allen
Cameron Chapman, co-star of Ruby Stokes in Lockwood and Co, is the fandom’s choice for Roman thus far. And we understand why they’re a popular pick for Roman and Iris. Their banter and angst while in scenes together feel real and hits you in the heart. They’re also the closest to the ages of Ross’s characters in the books, which makes it easy to want them cast. Roman and Iris have such a strong bond without even knowing who the other is through typewriting. Overall, having a pre-established bond as actors playing these characters would certainly make that believable.
Roman’s described as mysterious yet deeply insightful, well off in family fortune and reputation, and attractive. He cherishes the bond he has with Iris whom he writes typewriter messages to. Some may call him a man who pines and isn’t afraid of love in tough times. Which makes Jonah Hauer-King, Prince Eric in the live adaptation of The Little Mermaid, a perfect fit for Roman Kitt. He could display both charm and softness in his characters. And when he’s vulnerable and lets his emotions shine, audiences feel it through the screen. We could already imagine him leering over a typewriter, talking to Iris.
Kyle Allen, recently seen in Netflix’s The Life List with Sofia Carson, knows how to play a romantic lead with a delicate touch. He’s the underdog on this list, where some of you probably may have never heard of him. Yet for those who watched his latest film, you could feel your heart flutter a little when he confessed his feelings and gently admired Sofia’s character in the movie. It’s the small details of expression and delivery in Kyle’s performance that make us believe he’d be a great Roman. Therefore, we’d love to see him get a chance to lead an even bigger romance film.
Oscar Isaac as Dacre
This is an actor who needs no introduction. Oscar Isaac, who can be seen in the upcoming Frankenstein adaptation led by Guillermo del Toro, is our pick for Dacre, one of the most powerful beings in Ross’s Divine Rivals. His need for revenge against the goddess Enva, who escaped his land after being held in captivity, makes him the show’s antagonist. Therefore, we believe Isaac’s experience playing unstable and multi-dimensional godly characters in Disney’s Moon Knight could work in his favor here. Because we know he could play the type of guy looking to cause mayhem and destruction. His overall star power could elevate the project’s outreach as well.
Simone Ashley as Enva
Enva, the musical goddess who was captured by Dacre to be forced to play endlessly for his people, is the catalyst for this entire story. Her escape unleashed Dacre’s wrath and forced her hand in protecting herself and her people by any means necessary. It’s true that neither of them has absolute godly powers, but their division has had a great impact on society. And there’s nothing more powerful than a beautiful woman who won’t bow down to a man. We believe this Bridgerton star could fill these shoes. She’s already mastered such grace and intensity playing Viscountess Kate Bridgerton. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see more of Simone Ashley on screen? We certainly do.
MORE: If you love Kanthony, you’ll fall in love with Benophie. Read our thoughts on the Bridgerton Season 4 teaser of the new couple here!
Samantha Logan as Thea ‘Attie’ Atwood
The final season of CW’s All American has been announced, and we’d love to see Samantha Logan in this highly anticipated Divine Rivals film. We want to see her succeed long after the show ends. We see her embodying Attie, one of the girls staying at Marisol’s bed and breakfast in a war-torn town. She becomes close to Iris once she arrives for the assignment. And is a beacon of light for everyone in the house. For everyone who loved her as Olivia Baker for eight seasons on television, she’s already thought of as one. So her casting would just make sense to us.
Candice Patton as Marisol Torres
We’d love to see Candice Patton, Iris to Grant Gustin’s Barry in CW’s The Flash, on the big screen. Not only would she be a great fit for the caring mother figure of Marisol, but we miss seeing her on television. She has the experience playing a character who could handle disaster and anything life throws at her or her loved ones. Patton also knows what it feels like to be the heart of a project. As her Iris was beloved by audiences and Gustin’s Barry for years. We believe she’d be a great Marisol who would do anything to protect her house, found family, and support her wife in any corner of life.
Amanda Seyfried as Keegan Torres
Lastly, we’d also love to see Amanda Seyfried step into this fantasy world. We won’t see much of Keegan because she’s off in deployment while Marisol takes care of their house during the war. However, we think Seyfried’s latest role as an over-protective cop in Peacock’s Long Bright River would make her a great Keegan. She has the range of being vulnerable and goofy with loved ones, as seen in Universal’s Mamma Mia. It’s a side she’d only show to Marisol. But she could also be a total bad ass when necessary. And in Divine Rivals, she’d play a soldier, which would be new for her. We’d love to see her explore a new genre and step into something different.
Love the list! Ruby and Cameron would be fab. Fingers are crossed