Off Campus on Screen: Why I’m (Cautiously) Optimistic About Prime's Adaptation of The Deal
- evemrileyauthor
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
After the meteor that is Heated Rivalry hit our screens, hockey romance has firmly taken its place in the mainstream. Prime has just released the trailer for the first instalment of their adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus series, and my attention is well and truly captured! As the clock ticks down to Series One (focused on her debut, The Deal), I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of casting news and trailer breakdowns. I've found myself in “adaptation anxiety” land, and I need to write myself out of it!
So, whether you’re a seasoned fan or new to this whole varsity romance thing, get comfortable. We are going all in on The Deal: what we know so far about the Prime adaptation, casting and more!
AT A GLANCE
Tropes: Found Family, Fake Dating, College Romance, Friends to Lovers,
Steam factor: 🔥🔥🔥
Vibe: 2010s college nostalgia
Adaptation Release Date: 13th May 2026
THE DEAL: A NOVEL IN A NUTSHELL
Briar University hockey captain Garrett Graham loves his sport, his team, and himself. He’s confident he can get whatever he wants: professional signings, lots of play time, and any girl into bed with him. Then he fails his philosophy midterm, jeopardises his hockey career, and falls head over heels for his smart, sassy and unattainable tutor...
Hannah Wells is a talented and headstrong music scholar. But behind the scenes she is struggling to find love after her life was turned upside down. She's convinced that mysterious footballer Justin Cole will mend her broken heart, but he doesn't know she exists! Dating Garrett in exchange for tutoring is the last thing she wants, but if being in his spotlight will turn Cole's head, then it's worth the pretence, right?
As the two spend time together, their chemistry becomes undeniable. Can Garrett win Hannah’s trust and show her that what she really wants is right in front of her?
THE NOSTALGIA FACTOR
2016 throwbacks have been having a moment on social media. Kennedy’s debut was first published in 2015, and my copy doesn’t bear the marks of major post-release editorial whitewashing. Expect a heavy dose of 2010s nostalgia: I'm talking skinny jeans, Tumblr-girl throwbacks, noughties-adjacent prep... all that good stuff from what felt like a simpler time.
Like all time capsules, though, some of its contents can feel a little stale, including the (now infuriating) ‘she’s not like other girls’ trope (you know: she can polish off half a pizza while the cool girls will barely touch a dressed salad). Both protagonists’ perspectives are full of playfully reimagined tropes and moments of emotional depth... and also unexamined sexism. I’m fascinated to see how Louisa Levy and Gina Frattore (Dawson's Creek royalty) adapt this for a Post-Me-Too audience.
And speaking of TV...
WHAT ABOUT THE CASTING?
Who’d be a producer?! It can’t be easy when us readers are (rightly) so particular in our imaginings of our favourite characters and who we trust to bring them to life. Here's my two cents.
THE PLAYER:
Heartbreak High fans will be familiar with Josh Heuston's sultry performance as Dusty. We’ve seen “player” from him before, and those green eyes are irresistible.
THE COMPLEXITY:
Belmont Cameli has some serious and wide-ranging acting credits under his belt, most notably the romance Along For the Ride. I'm excited to see him strike the balance between golden-boy arrogance and the selfless loyalty and vulnerability that really drew me in.
THE FIRE:
I have a particularly good feeling about breakout star Ella Bright. While she is known for her starring role in the BBC adaptation of Malory Towers, we’re not in Enid Blighton land anymore! She brings determination and real emotional depth to her roles, crucial for Hannah Wells.
COLLEGE BONDING
Partying aside, Off Campus includes moments of genuinely sweet masculine vulnerability. The formative relationships between Garrett's housemates are the cornerstone of the overarching narrative. If Briar University found-family is a bit of you, you might also feel at home in my Techboys series. Like Off Campus, it follows a group of college friends navigating life and love, just with a few more gadgets and pixels and a lot more banter. (Consider this my shameless hockey-adjacent plug!)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimately, whether Prime's adaptation of The Deal adaptation will sink or swim hinges on translating Hannah and Garrett's spark while balancing the heaviness of their pasts with the levity they find in one another's company. I'm looking forward to seeing Off Campus with fresh eyes!
How are you feeling about the Prime adaptation? Who would your dream Garrett be? Drop your thoughts below!
Love,
Eve x
P.S. The latest addition to The Techboys series is coming soon! Preorder The Hero below: