Madelaine
Petsch (The Strangers) and Gavin Casalegno (The Summer I Turned Pretty) have officially signed on to star in the young adult romance film Chasing Red. Production is set to begin in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, in early 2026. The highly anticipated adaptation of the Wattpad bestseller promises an intense blend of passion, emotional conflict, and slow-burn chemistry as Petsch and Casalegno bring Veronica and Caleb’s addictive love story to life.
Based on Wattpad Bestseller by Isabelle Ronin
The film adapts the widely loved Wattpad webnovel written by Isabelle Ronin. Mackenzie Munro is attached to direct the project from a screenplay by Lauren Schacher (
Hooking Up).
Chasing Red will be produced by Greg Silverman and Grant Torre of Stampede Ventures (
Motor City), along with David Madden and Jason Goldberg of WEBTOON Productions (the
After franchise).
Plot: A Slow-Burn Romance Filled With Love, Secrets and Betrayal
The story follows straight-A student Veronica (Petsch), who wants nothing to do with college heartthrob Caleb (Casalegno). Despite an instant spark after a chance encounter, she refuses to be his next “conquest.”Haunted by a painful past and with nowhere else to go, Veronica eventually finds refuge under Caleb’s roof. As their attraction intensifies, buried truths emerge, setting the stage for a gripping journey of passion, heartbreak, and redemption in this addictive slow-burn romance.
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Mackenzie Munro’s Directorial Journey
Munro previously directed Wattpad’s first independently financed rom-com
Boot Camp, which premiered in August 2024 and starred Rachel Boudwin, Drew Ray Tanner, and Emmanuelle Chriqui. In 2021, she made her feature film debut with
Salvation, featuring Skeet Ulrich, Claire Forlani, Ashley Moore, Theo Rossi, and Thomas Jane. She also operates her own production banner,
Take a Trip.
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