If you’re already desperate for more of the world in Off Campus, then hockey romance fans are in for a treat as the creator reveals she always planned to do “multiple series” of Elle Kennedy’s books.
Season 2 has already been confirmed of Off Campus, but the best-selling novel is only the beginning of a five-book series, that follow different hockey players love stories at Briar University.
Showrunner and writer Louisa Levy told Radio Times that she’s definitely keen to adapt “as much as Amazon” will let her of the series.
“I’m ready,” Levy said, “Listen, I’ll adapt as much as Amazon will let me! I love these books. I’ve always intended to do multiple series or seasons of this show. You know, [we’ve] just got to have enough people tuning in to make Amazon want to make us to write more.”
Levy explained that the young romance genre is “so ripe” for TV adaptation, not just in hockey romances, but any stories that explore the teething pains of growing up in those crucially, awkward in-between teenage years of not being a child, but not quite being an adult either.
“I think that this world is just so ripe for— well, for TV adaptation in general, but also it enables you to disappear into these characters’ lives and they become your friends,” she continues.
“So hopefully it really feels like a warm hug. It feels like listening to your favourite song on repeat when you get to tune into this show, I think that’s how it feels. For me, reading the book, I feel— or all of the books, really— it feels like you’re spending time with your friends and that’s what I was hoping for with this show.
(L-R) Jalen Thomas Brooks, Belmont Cameli, Ella Bright, Stephen Thomas Kalyn and Antonio Cipriano in Off Campus Liane Hentscher / Prime Video
“I think college audiences hopefully feel seen. But maybe even some younger audiences will feel like they’re looking up to and aspiring to the college experience and those of us who are out of college hopefully feel like we’re looking back on it with some nostalgia.”
Prior to being brought onto the creative project, Levy wasn’t familiar with Kennedy’s best-selling series, but swiftly “devoured” all of the books, multiple times, before she began writing the script.
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“I didn’t actually know the books at all,” Levy explained. “I’m just a big fan of romance novels, and when I heard about this writing assignment, I devoured them and fell in love with them.
“The first time, I will admit, I listened to them on 2.0 speed on audiobook because I wanted to listen to them all before my meeting, and I just fell in love with them. Then I got to listen to them at a normal speed and then got to read them many, many times. So, I’m a big fan of the material.”
While some of the cast were unaware of the BookTok or the “hockey smut niche” they’re all keen to keep returning to these roles and the ice for future seasons.
Mika Abdalla who plays Hannah’s best friend, Allie, said about the next season: “Not only because I think Allie’s a really fun character to play, but also because I love everyone that I work with and we all care about the project a lot and I just think it’s a really great environment to be in and I would love to be in it again.”
Off Campus is available to stream now on Prime Video. Get 30 days for free with Amazon Prime free trial.
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