Netflix dropped its adaptation of Emily Henry’s 2021 bestseller on January 9, 2026, bringing together a cast mix that spans indie film newcomers and household names from prestige TV. If you’ve been wondering who’s playing Poppy, Alex, and the rest of the gang, here’s the full breakdown.

4 related posts

Poppy: Emily Bader · Alex: Tom Blyth · Sarah: Sarah Catherine Hook · Trey: Lucien Laviscount · David: Miles Heizer

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Final cast changes before release
  • Full character backstories for minor roles
  • Regional release variations outside US
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Post-release cast interviews expected
  • Potential awards consideration for ensemble

The table below summarizes the primary cast assignments for the film.

Key facts about People We Meet on Vacation cast
Label Value
Film Title People We Meet on Vacation (2026)
Poppy Emily Bader
Alex Tom Blyth
Sarah Sarah Catherine Hook
Trey Lucien Laviscount
David Miles Heizer

Who is in the cast of People We Meet on Vacation?

Netflix dropped its adaptation of Emily Henry’s 2021 bestseller on January 9, 2026, bringing together a cast mix that spans indie film newcomers and household names from prestige TV. The production, directed by Brett Haley, features Emily Bader and Tom Blyth as the central duo whose decade-long friendship drives the story, supported by an ensemble that includes Jameela Jamil, Molly Shannon, and Alan Ruck according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Lead roles

Emily Bader takes on Poppy Wright, the free-spirited travel writer at R&R magazine who grew up in small-town Ohio, per DIRECTV Insider’s character guide. Opposite her, Tom Blyth plays Alex Nilsen, Poppy’s best friend from Linfield, Ohio who prefers routine and works as a teacher. The two actors form the emotional core of the film, carrying the weight of Henry’s beloved characters onto screen.

Emily Bader brings previous experience from My Lady Jane (2024) and Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021), while Tom Blyth is known from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, as documented by Town & Country. The combination gives the film both emerging talent and established screen presence.

Supporting cast

The supporting ensemble elevates the entertainment value considerably. Jameela Jamil appears as Swapna Bakshi-Highsmith, Poppy’s stylish boss and mentor at R&R magazine, drawing from her comedy roots in The Good Place, according to DIRECTV Insider. Molly Shannon plays Wanda Wright, Poppy’s outgoing mother, while Alan Ruck takes the role of Jimmy Wright, Poppy’s affectionate father—a pairing that gives the film some of its warmest family moments.

Miles Heizer appears as David Nilsen, Alex’s brother who gets married in Barcelona, adding an important plot point to Alex’s storyline. His previous work includes 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020) and Love, Simon (2018), as noted by DIRECTV Insider.

Bottom line: Emily Bader anchors the film as the lead, giving audiences a recognizable face from recent genre work to connect with the adaptation’s central character.

Who plays Poppy and Alex?

Emily Bader stars as Poppy Wright, a free-spirited travel writer from small-town Ohio who works at R&R magazine and loves exploring the world. Tom Blyth portrays Alex Nilsen, Poppy’s best friend from Linfield, Ohio who prefers routine and stays in their hometown working as a teacher. The dynamic between these two characters—opposites who vacation together every summer for a decade—forms the heart of both the novel and the film, DIRECTV Insider confirms.

Emily Bader as Poppy

Emily Bader landed the lead role of Poppy Wright, capturing the adventurous spirit that defines the character. Her previous credits include My Lady Jane (2024) and Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021), per Town & Country.

Tom Blyth as Alex

Tom Blyth portrays Alex Nilsen, the routine-loving best friend whose relationship with Poppy questions whether friendship can become something more. His casting brought recognition from The Hunger Games franchise, where he appeared in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, alongside roles in Billy the Kid and The Gilded Age, according to Town & Country.

Bottom line: Tom Blyth’s casting leverages mainstream franchise recognition to draw audiences unfamiliar with the novel, while Emily Bader offers a fresh face that feels appropriate for Henry’s contemporary protagonist.

Who are Sarah, David, and Trey in the film?

Sarah Catherine Hook plays Sarah (listed as Sarah Torval in some sources), Miles Heizer takes the role of David Nilsen, and Lucien Laviscount portrays Trey. Each character adds dimension to Poppy and Alex’s story, whether through friendship dynamics, romantic interests, or family connections.

Sarah Catherine Hook as Sarah

Sarah Catherine Hook appears as Sarah, a supporting character in the film. The Sony Fandom Wiki notes a variation in the character’s name—Sarah Torval appears in some sources versus just Sarah in others—but the core role remains consistent as part of the ensemble cast, as confirmed by DIRECTV Insider.

Miles Heizer as David

Miles Heizer plays David Nilsen, Alex’s brother whose wedding in Barcelona becomes significant for Alex’s character arc. Heizer is known for his dramatic work in 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020), Love, Simon (2018), and more recently Boots (2025), per DIRECTV Insider. His casting brings emotional depth to the family dynamics in the film.

Lucien Laviscount as Trey

Lucien Laviscount plays Trey, Poppy’s boyfriend with wanderlust whom she met at R&R. Described as free-spirited and good-looking, Trey represents one of the film’s romantic complications, DIRECTV Insider explains. Laviscount brings experience from Emily in Paris (2021-Present), Scream Queens, and Snatch, per Town & Country.

Bottom line: Miles Heizer’s dramatic credentials from 13 Reasons Why give David’s wedding subplot the emotional weight it needs, grounding Alex’s arc in family stakes rather than just friendship.

Is there a Netflix connection to the cast?

Beyond streaming the film, Netflix has highlighted the cast through its Tudum platform, featuring interviews and features with Lucien Laviscount, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Lukas Gage. The streaming platform clearly invested in promoting the ensemble as part of its 2026 romantic comedy lineup, Rotten Tomatoes notes.

Supporting roles highlighted

Lukas Gage plays Buck, a carefree former finance worker turned adventurer who Poppy and Alex meet on their first camping trip. Gage is known from Euphoria (2019), The White Lotus (2021), and the upcoming Companion (2025), per DIRECTV Insider. His role adds comic relief and a reminder that Poppy and Alex aren’t the only ones living adventurously.

Alice Lee appears as Rachel, Poppy’s best friend in New York City who soul-cycles with her and delivers honest advice. The character appears as an influencer and artist in the book but has less detailed treatment in the film, per the DIRECTV Insider guide.

Molly Shannon and Alan Ruck as Poppy’s parents represent Netflix’s nod to established comedy talent. Shannon’s resume includes Saturday Night Live (1995-2001), Superstar (1999), and The White Lotus (2021), while Ruck is famous from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Twister (1996), and Speed (1994), as documented by DIRECTV Insider.

The upshot

Netflix’s promotional strategy treats supporting actors as potential draw cards, with Lukas Gage’s White Lotus recognition giving him standalone interview treatment that could convert viewers unfamiliar with the source material.

How does the film cast relate to the book?

The film adapts Emily Henry’s 2021 novel with a cast that aims to bring book characters to life. Rotten Tomatoes’ synopsis describes the story as follows: free-spirited Poppy and routine-loving Alex question whether they are a romantic match after a decade of friendship. The cast choices directly reflect character descriptions from the book.

Book adaptation cast

Emily Henry’s source novel established Poppy as a travel-obsessed magazine writer and Alex as her hometown-bound best friend. The film casting chose Emily Bader for Poppy’s adventurous energy and Tom Blyth for Alex’s grounded nature, matching the character dynamics Henry crafted, as DIRECTV Insider confirms.

Key differences emerge in supporting roles. Rachel appears as an influencer and artist in the book but has less detailed treatment in the film, per a comparison from DIRECTV Insider. Meanwhile, Poppy’s parents receive expanded roles in the adaptation, giving Molly Shannon and Alan Ruck more screen time than their book counterparts.

Why this matters

For fans of the novel, the casting delivers recognizable character chemistry even where plot details shift. The core relationship between Poppy and Alex remains faithful to Henry’s vision, while supporting characters adapt to the cinematic format.

Emily Bader’s approach to finding her character demonstrates a commitment to source material that should reassure readers expecting faithful adaptation.

Emily Bader, Actor (Poppy Wright) — YouTube Meet the Cast interview

A strong supporting cast — Lukas Gage, Molly Shannon, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil and Lucien Laviscount – ups the entertainment value.

Rotten Tomatoes Review

The producers include Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, and Isaac Klausner, with Emily Henry serving as an executive producer alongside Laura Quicksilver and Ted Gidlow, according to Rotten Tomatoes Cast & Crew. The screenplay was written by Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon, and Nunzio Randazzo.

The trade-off

Emily Henry’s executive producer credit signals authorial oversight, yet the film necessarily streamlines supporting characters. Rachel loses depth for pacing, while Poppy’s parents gain screen time through Shannon and Ruck’s comedic chemistry—a net positive for audiences who want laugh-out-loud family moments over book fidelity.

Related reading: Five Nights at Freddy’s Complete Guide · Love Death + Robots Complete Guide

Additional sources

rottentomatoes.com, youtube.com

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Frequently asked questions

Who plays the lead roles in People We Meet on Vacation?

Emily Bader stars as Poppy Wright and Tom Blyth portrays Alex Nilsen as the central duo of the 2026 Netflix film, per DIRECTV Insider.

What is Emily Bader’s role?

Emily Bader plays Poppy Wright, the free-spirited travel writer and protagonist who works at R&R magazine, as confirmed by multiple sources.

Who is Tom Blyth playing?

Tom Blyth portrays Alex Nilsen, Poppy’s best friend from Linfield, Ohio who prefers routine and works as a teacher.

Who are the supporting actors?

Supporting actors include Jameela Jamil (Swapna), Lucien Laviscount (Trey), Lukas Gage (Buck), Miles Heizer (David), Sarah Catherine Hook (Sarah), Molly Shannon (Wanda), and Alan Ruck (Jimmy), according to Rotten Tomatoes and DIRECTV Insider.

Is the cast listed on IMDb?

Yes, the full cast credits are available on IMDb along with character names and actor filmographies.

Does Netflix cover the cast?

Netflix’s Tudum platform has featured interviews with cast members including Lucien Laviscount, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Lukas Gage.

How many main cast members are announced?

The announced main cast includes at least ten actors in speaking roles, from lead actors Emily Bader and Tom Blyth to supporting players like Molly Shannon and Alan Ruck.

The cast brings Emily Henry’s beloved characters to screen with a mix of rising talent and established performers. For readers of the novel, the casting delivers recognizable chemistry between Bader and Blyth, while the supporting ensemble—particularly Shannon, Ruck, and Jameela Jamil—adds comedic dimension that should resonate with both book fans and new audiences. The film releases January 9, 2026, on Netflix.