Lili Reinhart's Olive Smith Wig Details in The Love

Lili Reinhart will play Olive Smith, a third-year biology PhD candidate, and will also executive produce the film adaptation of The Love Hypothesis. Tom Bateman will play Dr. Adam Carlsen, the professor, with a supporting cast including Jaboukie Young-White, Rachel Marsh, Nicholas Duvernay, and Arty Froushan.

Reinhart acknowledged a personal disconnect from her character's world. "Science was my worst subject. I didn’t go to college. Couldn’t relate less to being a graduate student in science," she said. She emphasized that the story's focus on women in science is a rare representation. The first official images arrived on June 11, 2026, showing Reinhart as Olive and Bateman as Dr. Carlsen, including a recreation of the book cover's first kiss. A trailer released on August 26 featured Olive's plot-setting line about a fake dating scheme.

Wig construction and styling secrets

Reinhart did not dye her hair for the role. Instead, hair department head Frederic Bélanger and wigmaker Stacey Butterworth created two custom wigs. The process began with a mold of Reinhart's head. Hair was then installed strand by strand.

The color was a precise, hard-won shade. Described as 'somewhere that sits between dark blonde and light brown,' it was also called 'bronde.' Multiple attempts, including red-warm brown, honey, and chestnut browns, preceded the final choice.

Crafting a natural appearance was most important. The team focused on the hairline and density to avoid a 'wig-y' look. They added different-colored strands for dimension and incorporated fluffy, lighter-weight strands to mimic how natural hair moves. Reinhart's own thick hair was pulled tightly underneath and secured with U-shaped pins. Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage Creme blended the wig part seamlessly with her scalp.

Olive's hairstyles reflected her character. Her hair looked lived-in and unstyled for casual moments, like watching Love Island on the couch. For parties, it was styled but not over-the-top, as if potentially done by her friend Anh.

Influence of source material and cast dynamics

Creative hair decisions were subtly influenced by the novel's origins as Star Wars fanfiction featuring Kylo Ren and Rey. The recreation of the book cover kiss scene featured a chignon styled like a bow. A unique off-screen connection also exists: Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey in the films that inspired the fanfiction, is married to Tom Bateman.

Production and release timeline

The film is being produced by Amazon MGM Studios and MRC. Claire Scanlon, known for Set It Up, directs from a screenplay by Sarah Rothschild of The Sleepover. The full cast was confirmed on August 11.

Reinhart shared the initial casting news on Instagram on July 16 with a photo of the book and the caption "👀🧬❤️ #thelovehypothesis." Author Ali Hazelwood praised the cast's chemistry, saying they made me fall for these characters all over again.

Representation and thematic focus

Reinhart's commitment to the role extends beyond the wigs. Having played Betty Cooper on Riverdale for six years, she now steps into a story she feels is important. The film centers on women in science, a representation she has pointed out is uncommon. Bateman's character, Dr. Adam Carlsen, also undergoes a grooming progression from a stiff look to a more relaxed style.

The film will premiere on Prime Video on September 23, 2026.