Netflix unveils the first cast photo for its To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy was first adapted into a string of hit movies from 2018 to 2021. The series follows shy teen Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) after the unthinkable happens: Her little sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart) sends out a bunch of love letters to her former crushes, forcing her to confront each and every one. Lara Jean's relationship with one of the recipients, Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), ignited intense fan excitement and helped make To All the Boys one of Netflix's most beloved franchises.
Because of that, the streamer has sought to expand this world with a new spinoff. Announced last year, months after trilogy closer To All the Boys: Always and Forever debuted, the original series XO, Kitty will follow the titular matchmaker as she embarks on her own love story. Kitty thinks she knows everything there is to know about love. However, when she moves halfway across the world to be with her long-distance boyfriend, she'll soon realize relationships are a lot more complicated when it's her heart that is involved. XO, Kitty will be comprised of 10 half-hour episodes; Han serves as a co-showrunner alongside Sascha Rothchild.
Netflix has officially announced the start of production on XO, Kitty, which kicked off this week in Seoul, South Korea. The streamer released a first look photo and also included the full cast list for the series. To start, Cathcart returns as her To All the Boys character, while Kitty's boyfriend Dae will be played by Choi Min-yeong. Other series regulars include Anthony Keyvan as Q, Peter Thurnwald as Alex, Regan Aliyah as Juliana, Gia Kim as Yuri, and Sang Heon Lee as Min Ho. XO, Kitty also includes Yunjin Kim, Michael K. Lee, and Jocelyn Shelfo in ing roles.
Audiences have essentially gotten to watch Cathcart's Kitty grow up over the course of the To All the Boys series, and with this spinoff, it is time for her to take center stage. She played a key role in her sister's romantic journey, and it'll be interesting to see how watching Lara Jean and Peter's relationship will inform her own experiences. With Han on board as a showrunner, XO, Kitty should be able to retain the spirit of To All the Boys even though it isn't based on a book.
It isn't yet clear if other characters from To All the Boys will get to turn up in cameos for XO, Kitty, but it seems likely that those like Lara Jean will at least get a shoutout. Regardless of whether there will be references to the past movies, XO, Kitty already feels like a thrilling follow-up for the beloved series. Of all the people in the original story, Kitty was by far the best candidate for a spinoff, and with filming now underway, fans might be able to see her take the lead by the end of the year.
Source: Netflix