Director Josh Boone, known for his work in ‘The Fault in Our Stars,’ said that Filipino-American actor Sam Morelos was the first and only choice to portray Lexie in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel ‘Regretting You.’
‘About 900 people submitted tapes for Lexie,’ Boone revealed in a statement sent to Inquirer Entertainment. ‘Sam Morelos was our first and only choice. They’re one of the most popular characters in any screening. They always get the most laughs.’
In ‘Regretting You,’ Boone brings Hoover’s emotional mother-daughter story to the big screen, starring Allison Williams as Morgan Grant and Mckenna Grace as her teenage daughter, Clara.
The film follows the two women as they navigate grief, betrayal, and rediscovery after a tragic accident upends their lives. The cast also includes Dave Franco, Mason Thames, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, and Clancy Brown.
Morelos plays Lexie, Clara’s longtime best friend, who provides comic relief in the film, which is otherwise steeped in tension and heartbreak.
‘Lexie is just a fun, light presence,’ said Morelos. ‘In a movie where there’s a lot of tension, Lexie is the knife that cuts it. I was laughing whenever I was on set-mostly at my own jokes.’
Morelos, who uses they and them pronouns, gained recognition for their role as Nikki in Netflix’s ‘That ’90s Show,’ where they showcased both their comedic timing and musical background.
Born and raised in California to Filipino immigrant parents, Morelos also has roots in theater and music, performing in local stage productions before breaking into Hollywood.
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The Fil-Am star said they were also immediately drawn to Lexie’s personality during auditions as she spoke about her experience working with their co-stars.
‘Everyone was a joy to work with,’ they said. ‘Allison was so interested in Gen Z vernacular that I became her guide. She started saying things like, ‘Slay the house down, Boots. Houston, I’m deceased.’ Dave Franco is so sweet and so curious.’
For Morelos, ‘Regretting You’ is a film best experienced with loved ones, as it is a story that features ‘the little moments that shaped people’s relationships in the long run.’
‘Everyone should watch ‘Regretting You’ in theaters with their moms, their best friends, and their partners,’ they said. ‘Watching this film in a cinema filled with that much love will make you want to hold your people closer ; it’s that infectious.’