Billy Howle Cast as Edward opposite Saoirse Ronan in On Chesil Beach #book2movies

I read and loved Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach* earlier this year and learned soon after that Saoirse Ronan was set to play Florence, the virginal bride of the novel. A perfect choice. Who, the question was, would play Edward, the virginal groom?

Not an easy find. As Elizabeth Carlson, one of the film’s producers, told Deadline. “The character of Edward has a lot of qualities that are hard to find in young people today. But Billy has all the qualities of strength, innocence, sensitivity and a certain kind of rage that are needed for this complex role.”

Billy? That’s Billy Howle, a British newcomer, whose upcoming credits include The Sense Of An Ending with Emily Mortimer and Charlotte Rampling and The Seagull also with Ronan and Annette Bening. Currently he’s best known for Cider with Rosie, Glue and The Sense of an Ending. Not a complete film and TV virgin.

Dominic Cooke (The Hollow Crown) directs. On Chesil Beach starts shooting in the UK in October with a plan to hit theaters sometime in 2017. 

So? What do you think? I had a few casting ideas for Edward which I posted previously; for me Howle is a bit too pretty but I have a feeling many a younger woman will disagree with me.

Listen to Ian McEwan read On Chesil Beach