Sara Waisglass and Damian Hardung are set to star in the upcoming YA romance film 'Into the Deep Blue,' based on Jennifer E. Archer's novel and script. The story follows two best friends navigating grief and budding romance after losing their mothers. Filming is scheduled to begin in 2026, with no release date announced yet.
Cast and Production Updates
Sara Waisglass, known for her role in Netflix's 'Ginny & Georgia,' will portray Fiona in 'Into the Deep Blue.' Her co-star, Damian Hardung from Prime Video's 'Maxton Hall — The World Between Us,' will play Nick. Screenwriter Jennifer E. Archer praised Waisglass on Instagram, stating, 'Sara IS Fiona. She radiates warmth, she’s fiercely talented, and she’s pretty damn hilarious too! She will bring so much heart to this role.'
Waisglass shared her excitement in an interview with Swooon, saying, 'He’s amazing, and I just met up with the team last week, like the writer and the director. It’s gonna be so good. I’m so excited about it. It’s been a dream of mine to do a book-to-movie adaptation… [Into the Deep Blue] is gonna be really cool.' She noted that she has started emailing Hardung ahead of production.
The project has seen casting changes: India Amarteifio was attached in August 2024 per Deadline, and Sabrina Carpenter was considered in 2022. No other cast members have been announced.
Story and Background
'Into the Deep Blue' is a friends-to-lovers tale about high school seniors Nick and Fiona, who meet in group therapy and bond over the loss of their mothers. Despite their close friendship, they resist romantic feelings—Nick doubts happy endings, while Fiona questions if grief is their only connection. A weekend trip forces them to confront their emotions.
The script was selected for the 2022 Nicholl Fellowship by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archer published the novel version in September 2025. Jonathan Wright, director of 'Awakening the Zodiac' (2017), is helming the film. It draws comparisons to Nicola Yoon’s 'The Sun is Also a Star' and John Green’s 'The Fault in Our Stars.'
Release Details
Casting was announced in November 2025 via People. Filming kicks off in 2026, but an official release date remains TBA. No trailer is available yet.
