Update Consent

How to Date Billy Walsh: Cast, Plot, Release Date

Charithra Chandran Stars in New Rom-Com "How to Date Billy Walsh" — Here's What Else We Know

Amazon Prime Video is taking viewers back to secondary school with the announcement of its new film: "How to Date Billy Walsh." In a cast photo released on 27 Aug. via Instagram, the streaming service teased the upcoming British romantic-comedy film, which features some familiar faces whose careers are most certainly on an upward trajectory.

The central cast features stars from our favourite shows including "Bridgerton," "Heartstopper," and "Cobra Kai," playing a love triangle well-versed in the teen rom-com genre. Producer Matt Williams referred to the film as "a new instalment in the high school rom-com genre but [completely refreshed] with a unique British sense of humour."

Filming has recently begun, with a global premiere date set for some point in 2023. It's early days, and the film still has plenty of mystery around its production, but here's what we know so far about the nation's next feel-good film.

Image Source: Prime Video

"How to Date Billy Walsh" First Picture

Announcement about the film came alongside a first glimpse of its central cast. In a photo posted to Instagram by Prime Video UK, we can see cast members Tanner Buchanan, Charithra Chandran and Sebastian Croft, with Chandran's arms draped across the two boys' shoulders.

Buchanan wears the classic all-American teen movie look, dressed in a plain white tee, jeans, and a black leather jacket, as Croft, his opposition in the love triangle, sports more hipster attire, layering an Elvis tee over a patterned shirt. In true rom-com fashion, our leading lady rocks a pink dress with a pair of Vans and an embellished denim jacket. These looks all hint at some fun costume design by Eleanor Baker ("The Princess Switch 3"). They also show that these stars are more befitting of the "heartthrob" status that Prime Video awarded them in their Instagram caption.

The full caption of the photo reads: "We can't wait for you to see our British high school romcom How To Date Billy Walsh, coming soon to Prime Video 🥰 starring heartthrobs @tannerbuchananofficial, @charithra17 & @sebastiancroft"

"How to Date Billy Walsh" Cast

All three of the main love triangle in "How to Date Billy Walsh" are familiar faces, each fresh off the success of a recent beloved Netflix series. Charithra Chandran, who rose to fame as Edwina Sharma in season 2 of "Bridgerton", plays Amelia, while Sebastian Croft from the coming-of-age hit show "Heartstopper" plays Archie — two best friends who have been inseparable since childhood. As the eponymous Billy Walsh, Tanner Buchanan ("Cobra Kai", "He's All That") stars.

Beyond them, the supporting cast boasts a number of British comedy icons such as Lucy Punch ("Motherland"), Guz Khan ("Man Like Mobeen"), and Nick Frost ("Hot Fuzz"). As well as this, "The Big Bang Theory" star Kunal Nayyar features, and the cast is rounded off by newcomer Daisy Jelley.

Tushar Jindal, head of film acquisition at Prime Video, said, "How to Date Billy Walsh" features an incredibly exciting, young, and diverse cast that have already made a mark internationally."

Image Source: Getty/Karwai Teng/Wireimage

"How to Date Billy Walsh" Plot

In the official press release shared with POPSUGAR, Prime Video explains that the plot begins with the tight relationship between Amelia and Archie, who have been best friends since childhood. While Archie has her back and laughs at her jokes, he is also striving for her love and affection. Just as he builds the courage to tell her his feelings, Amelia falls for Billy Walsh, the new American transfer student. Archie tries to keep the two away from each other but ends up pushing them together and risks losing his best friend.

The plot follows a classic high school rom-com formula — and, let's be honest, it's a framework that works! Yet we are used to seeing this storyline play out in the halls of American settings, so "How to Date Billy Walsh" offers us something new with its British twist.

Image Source: Prime Video

"How to Date Billy Walsh" Crew

The movie is the third British film to be produced by Prime Video and is produced alongside Future Artists Entertainment.

Alex Sanjiv Pillai ("Bridgerton") directs. Familiar with the teen drama genre, Pillai has previously directed episodes of shows such as "Riverdale", "Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin", and "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina". The script has been written by Alexander J. Farrell and Greer Ellison ("Making a Killing").

The crew also includes Hamish Doyne-Ditmas ("Save the Cinema") as director of photography, Julian Nagel ("Been So Long") as production designer, Eleanor Baker ("The Princess Switch 3") as costume designer, Chloe Edwards ("Breeders") as makeup designer, and Matt Platts-Mills ("Sanditon") as editor.

Image Source: Getty/David M.Benett

"How to Date Billy Walsh" Release Date

Prime Video is yet to announce an official release date, but audiences can expect the film to drop exclusively on the platform in 2023. It will be released globally in over 240 countries and territories.

Image Source: Getty/Cindy Ord

Want More?

POPSUGAR Would Like To Send You Push Notifications.