[category]
[title]
Just when you thought Lisa couldn’t possibly squeeze anything else into her schedule, she’s gone and bagged herself a lead role in a Netflix Notting-Hill-style romantic comedy, according to sources. And yes, we’re absolutely holding out hope that Thailand might just sneak its way into the frame.
Netflix dropped the news on February 5 that Lisa will star in an as- yet- untitled rom-com penned by Katie Silberman, the writer behind Set It Up and Booksmart. Translation: – this one’s going to be good. Lisa is also reuniting with David Bernad, the executive producer she bonded with on the set of The White Lotus season three, which, let’s not forget, was filmed right here on our gorgeous shores in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok.
According to reports, the entire concept for the film was born during those six months of filming in Thailand. Lisa and Bernad apparently spent their downtime gushing over Notting Hill, the 1999 Julia Roberts classic about a famous actress falling for a regular bloke who runs a bookshop. They loved it so much they decided to create their own version, tapped Silberman to write it and now here we are.
So the big question – will any of this film actually be shot in Thailand? Netflix is keeping plot details locked down tighter than a vault, but the inspiration tells us plenty. If they’re riffing on Notting Hill, we’re looking at a celebrity meets normie romance. And where better to set that than a country that’s already proven itself as Lisa’s home and a certified Netflix darling?
Thailand has been absolutely killing it as a filming destination lately. The White Lotus season three brought international attention and a reported 40 per cent jump in hotel rates at the Four Seasons Koh Samui, casually. Netflix’s Mother of the Bride showcased Phuket’s Anantara resorts to 26.7 million viewers worldwide. The Thai government has been sweetening the deal with cash rebates of up to 30 per cent for film productions, while tourism officials have practically been rolling out the red carpet for international projects.
Lisa herself is Thailand’s not- so- secret weapon. She’s an official Amazing Thailand Ambassador, she’s spoken repeatedly about her pride in showcasing Thai culture and she literally thanked Mike White for letting her ‘share my culture and show the beauty of Thailand to the world’ after The White Lotus wrapped. Given that this rom-com idea germinated on Thai soil while she was doing exactly that, it would feel almost poetic if the film circled back to where it all began.
Lisa will executive produce alongside Alice Kang from her management company LLOUD and Silberman has an exclusive multi year deal with Netflix, signalling just how invested the streamer is in making this work. Production is expected to kick off later this year, though no release date has been confirmed yet.
Will we see Lisa falling in love against the backdrop of Bangkok? A meet-cute at a floating market? A significant moment at a rooftop bar overlooking the Chao Phraya? We can speculate and stay hopeful. But with Lisa’s track record of making things happen and Thailand’s proven appeal to international filmmakers, those dreams might not be that far fetched.
Watch this space. And maybe start scouting romantic Bangkok locations, just in case Netflix comes calling.