Summary

• Anthony Ramos, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Xolo Maridueña are solid choices to play Evelyn Hugo’s first husband, Ernie Diaz, in the upcoming film adaptation.
• Jacob Elordi, David Corenswet, and Scott Eastwood are popular choices to portray Evelyn’s second husband, Don Adler, in the highly anticipated film.
• Harry Styles, Diego Boneta, and Avan Jogia are top contenders to play rock star Mick Riva, Evelyn’s short-lived third husband, in the upcoming movie adaptation.

A film adaptation of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is coming soon, which raises the question of which actors should play each of the seven husbands. Taylor Jenkins-Reid’s novel tells the story of fictional Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo, a former movie star and sex symbol from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Throughout her life, Evelyn has had a total of seven husbands, to whom each has a chapter dedicated with a descriptor attached to their name. However, her true love has always been fellow actress, Celia St. James, with whom she carries on a secret, on-and-off relationship for decades.

Back in 2022, it was announced that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo movie was in the works at Netflix, with Little Fires Everywhere‘s Liz Tigelaar signed on to write and Russian Doll showrunner, Leslye Headland, set to direct. The film began production in 2022, though its release date is unknown. While there is no casting news for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo movie just yet, there are a few common choices for who should play the characters from the wildly popular novel, including Ana de Armas as Evelyn and Jessica Chastain as Celia. Here are some solid choices for who should be cast as Evelyn Hugo’s seven husbands.

1 Poor Ernie Diaz

Evelyn’s first husband, Ernie Diaz, was also her ticket to Hollywood. Ernie was a 22-year-old electrician of Mexican descent who was going out west for work. Evelyn marries him at 15 (but lies and says she’s 18) in 1953 to escape her abusive father in New York and chase stardom. Once her career starts to take off, she leaves him.

Anthony Ramos

One solid option to play Ernie is Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actor, Anthony Ramos. He is best known for his starring in the original production of the stage musical, Hamilton, as well as his roles in films like In The Heights and A Star Is Born, and TV shows like She’s Gotta Have It. While Ramos is currently a decade older than Ernie is supposed to be, he’s played younger characters before and has the chops to pull it off.

Josh Andrés Rivera

Another actor who would be a great fit for Ernie is 28-year-old Josh Andrés Rivera. He is best known for starring in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of West Side Story as well as the recently released film adaptation of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Rivera is relatively new to the acting business but has already starred in some blockbuster hits, proving that he could handle the pressure of starring in this highly anticipated film adaptation.

Xolo Maridueña

Another great option for playing Ernie is Xolo Maridueña. The 22-year-old is best known for his lead role in the Karate Kid spinoff series, Cobra Kai, as well as for playing the titular superhero in the DCEU film, Blue Beetle. Maridueña may be a bit younger than the other options on this list, but he is actually the same age that Ernie is supposed to be when he marries Evelyn. Plus, Maridueña is of Mexican descent, just like the character.

2 Goddamn Don Adler

Evelyn married her second husband, fellow Sunset Studios actor, Don Adler, in 1957 when she was just 18 and he was 26. Evelyn met the “Prince of Hollywood,” a brunette with hazel eyes, in the movie business. Shortly after, the studio paired them together and pushed their relationship into the public eye to create buzz for their movies. While their relationship did garner publicity, they were actually in love. However, two months into their marriage, Don started abusing Evelyn, and they got divorced two years later.

Jacob Elordi

An actor who would be perfect for capturing both Don’s charming exterior and violent side is Jacob Elordi. The Australian actor is best known for playing Nate Jacobs in the HBO series Euphoria, as well as his recent roles in Saltburn and Priscilla. Elordi played Elvis Presley in Priscilla, proving that he can exude the 1950s Old Hollywood flair needed to play Don. He depicted a darker side of Elvis in the film and plays an abuser on Euphoria, so he can pull off Don’s domestic violence. He can also do a killer American accent, and the 26-year-old is the same age as Don when he marries Evelyn.

David Corenswet

Another actor who could definitely pull off Don’s Old Hollywood charm is David Corenswet. The 30-year-old is best known for his roles in the film Pearl and the Netflix series, The Politician, as well as replacing Henry Cavill as Superman in the upcoming Superman: Legacy film. Corenswet also played one of the leads in the miniseries, Hollywood, which is about young actors trying to make it in show business during the Hollywood Golden Age. Corenswet’s character, Jack Castello, shares some similarities with movie stars from that era like Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and James Dean, just like Don.

Scott Eastwood

One of the most popular choices to play Don Adler is actor Scott Eastwood. The 37-year-old is best known for his roles in Suicide Squad (2016), Pacific Rim: Uprising, and the Fast & the Furious films, The Fate of the Furious and Fast X. He is also the son of Hollywood icon, Clint Eastwood, who was acting in movies way back in the 50s like Don, so it’s in Scott’s blood. While Scott may be older than Don when he and Evelyn get married, the character does come in and out of Evelyn’s life over the years, so it might not hurt to have an older actor play Don.

3 Gullible Mick Riva

Evelyn’s marriage to her third husband, rock star Mick Riva, in 1961 was also her shortest. Evelyn elopes with Mick to Las Vegas as a distraction from the rumors about her secret relationship with Celia. The two of them get an annulment the very next day, just as Evelyn planned. Mick Riva also appears in a number of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novels. He’s a major character in Malibu Rising, makes a brief appearance in Daisy Jones & The Six, and is mentioned in Carrie Soto is Back. He is described as having jet-black hair and dark eyes.

Harry Styles

Someone who could really do Mick justice onscreen is British artist, Harry Styles. While the 29-year-old is best known for his music as both a solo artist and as part of former boyband, One Direction, he began acting professionally in 2017 with a minor role in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. Since then, he has starred in the films Eternals, Don’t Worry Darling and My Policeman. Mick Riva is supposed to be a rock star type like Mick Jagger, to whom Styles has often been compared, especially when he grew his hair long. Plus, Styles is a musician like Mick, so he could pull off the concert scene.

Diego Boneta

Another singer-actor who could play Mick well is 32-year-old Diego Boneta. He is best known for his TV work on shows like 90210, Pretty Little Liars, and Scream Queens. He also had his feature film debut in the jukebox musical, Rock of Ages, in which he played an aspiring rock star. In addition to his acting work, Boneta has also released two studio albums: Diego and Indigo.

Avan Jogia

31-year-old Canadian actor, Avan Jogia, would also be a good choice to play Mick. Jogia is best known for playing Beck Oliver on the Nickelodeon series, Victorious, on which he did occasionally sing. He also starred in the miniseries, Tut, and TV series like Twisted, Now Apocalypse, and Ghost Wars. Jogia has also released music in the past.

4 Clever Rex North

Evelyn’s marriage with her fourth husband, Rex North, in 1962 was more of a business arrangement than a marriage. Rex, whose real name is Karl Olvirsson, is an Icelandic actor and Evelyn’s co-star in the film adaptation of Anna Karenina. The two of them get married as a publicity stunt to generate buzz for their movie, and divorce once Rex gets his real girlfriend pregnant. Rex is described by Evelyn as “pragmatic and never precious” and “so beautiful it was nearly boring.” He has blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

Alexander Skarsgård

Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård would be a perfect choice to play Rex. Skarsgård comes from a family of actors, and is best known for his roles in the TV series, True Blood, Big Little Lies, and Succession, and films like The Legend of Tarzan, The Northman, and Melancholia. Skarsgård fits the physical description of Rex to a tee and could really embody his calculated and clever disposition. The 47-year-old actor may be a little older than the character is supposed to be, but Skarsgård looks younger than he is and has an ageless quality about him.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

British actor, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, would also do Rex justice onscreen. The 33-year-old is best known for his roles in films like Nowhere Boy, Nocturnal Animals, Tenet, Bullet Train, and the Kick-Ass movies. He also plays the Marvel superhero Quicksilver in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Taylor-Johnson would be perfect for the role of Rex because he also played Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky in a film adaptation of Anna Karenina. He also has Rex’s blue eyes and, while not a natural blonde, has dyed his hair for roles in the past and could certainly do it again.

Joe Alwyn

Another British actor who would be a great choice to play Rex is Joe Alwyn. The 32-year-old is best known for his roles in films like The Favorite, Mary Queen of Scots, and Harriet, as well as the TV series, Conversations with Friends, which was a screen adaptation of Sally Rooney’s debut novel. He has blonde hair and bright blue eyes like Rex, and has already starred in the screen adaptation of a super popular “Booktok” book, so he can handle the pressure.

5 Brilliant, Kindhearted, Tortured Harry Cameron

Evelyn’s fifth husband, Harry Cameron, was her lifelong best friend and the only husband to get more than one adjective in his chapter title. Harry was a producer at Sunset Studios and discovered Evelyn at a diner and gave her a job. Though he is described as having blonde hair and blue eyes, the majority of actors who are often fan-casted for the role of Harry are brunettes.

When Evelyn discovers that Harry is in a secret relationship with Celia’s husband, NFL quarterback John Braverman, they decide to also get pretend-married and move close to Celia and John, so they can each be with their true loves. Harry and Evelyn were married for 15 years and have a daughter named Connor. After John dies, Harry spirals and eventually dies from a drunk driving accident.

Matt Bomer

One fantastic choice to play Harry is 46-year-old actor, Matt Bomer. He is known for his roles on TV series like White Collar and Doom Patrol as well as films like The Nice Guys and the Magic Mike franchise. Bomer is classically handsome and has a clean-cut and timeless look, making him appear younger than he is. Since Harry is one of the main characters and appears consistently throughout the book, the actor who plays him would have to portray him at several different ages until his death. While not a requirement, Bomer is also gay like Harry, which could potentially make it easier for him to relate to Harry.

Richard Madden

Another solid option for Harry is Scottish actor, Richard Madden. The 37-year-old is best known for his role in Game of Thrones as well as films like Cinderella, Rocketman, and 1917. Like Bomer, Madden is very clean-cut and handsome. Though he’s never confirmed his own sexuality, Madden has played many gay characters in the past.

Taron Egerton

Welsh actor, Taron Egerton, would also be a great choice to play Harry. The 34-year-old is best known for his roles in the Kingsman and Sing movies as well as playing Elton John alongside Madden in the musical biopic, Rocketman. Given that he portrayed one of the most famous gay icons of all time, Egerton would be able to do Harry and his story justice.

6 Disappointing Max Girard

Evelyn’s sixth husband was French New Wave film director, Max Girard. They first met in 1961 after Evelyn and Don got divorced, and Evelyn went to Paris to star in Max’s film, Boute-en-Train. They collaborate again 14 years later when Evelyn stars in his film, Three A.M. which also stars Don. After Celia leaves her, Evelyn divorces Harry to marry Max. However, she discovers that he “had no intention of even trying to love [her]” and “was only capable of loving the idea of [her],” as in, a bombshell sex symbol.

Louis Garrel

French actor, Louis Garrel, would be perfect for the role of Max. The 40-year-old is best known for starring in films like The Dreamers and Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film adaptation of Little Women. Not only is Garrel French like Max, but he has also written and directed several films, including Two Friends, A Faithful Man, The Crusades, and The Innocents, all of which he also starred in.

Pio Marmaï

Another French actor who would kill the role of Max is Pio Marmaï. The 39-year-old is best known for his roles in Happening, A Difficult Year, and The Three Muskateers films alongside Garrel. Though not a director himself, he is also French like Max and has starred in a number of French films.

Hugo Becker

Yet another French actor who would be great as Max is 36-year-old Hugo Becker. He is best known for his roles in the TV series Chefs and Gossip Girl. Becker is, of course, French like Max, and has directed a number of French films, including On verra bien si on se noie and La nuit juste avant les forêts.

7 Agreeable Robert Jamison

Evelyn’s marriage with her seventh and final husband, Robert Jamison, was also her longest. Robert is the older brother of Evelyn’s lifelong, on-and-off lover, Celia St. James. After Celia tells Evelyn she is dying, Robert and Evelyn get married so that she and Celia can spend Celia’s final years together, and Evelyn can inherit Celia’s estate when she eventually passes. They all move to Spain along with Evelyn’s daughter, Connor, with whom Robert develops a close father-daughter relationship after her own father died. Robert works on Wall Street and is described as having grey hair.

George Clooney

Though he is a very big name, in a perfect world, George Clooney would play Robert in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo film. The Academy-Award-winning actor is best known for his roles on the TV series, ER, and countless films like O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Syriana, Up in the Air, The Ides of March and the Ocean’s movies. The 62-year-old has grey hair like Robert and can play a father figure role very well.

Patrick Dempsey

If they can’t get Clooney, another great option for Robert would be Patrick Dempsey. The 57-year-old actor is best known for playing Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy and starring in films like Can’t Buy Me Love, Enchanted, and Bridget Jones’ Baby. Like Clooney, Dempsey is a fellow silver-haired man and would do well playing a fatherly role.

John Corbett

Lastly, actor John Corbett could definitely embody the character of Robert in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The 62-year-old is best known for playing Aidan Shaw on Sex & The City and the revival, And Just Like That… He is also known for his roles on Northern Exposure and United States of Tara, and starring in Raising Helen, Raise Your Voice, and the My Big Fat Greek Wedding movies.