Deacon Phillippe, son of actors Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, has secured a role in the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Lynn Painter's novel "Better Than the Movies." The casting announcement was made by Netflix on Thursday, adding Phillippe to a cast that includes Beatrice Kitsos and David Iacono in lead roles.
Phillippe, 22, will portray Michael Young in the film. He shared his excitement on social media, calling his castmates his "gang" and expressing gratitude for the opportunity. This role marks another step in his burgeoning acting career, following his debut in the 2022 series "Never Have I Ever" and an appearance in the 2025 Prime Video series "Motorheads." He is also slated to appear in "4 Kids Walk Into a Bar" in 2027.
![Deacon Phillippe is set to play the role of Michael Young in Better Than the Movies, the adaptation of the Lynn Painter’s #1 New York Times bestseller published in 2021]( "Deacon Phillippe as Michael Young in "Better Than the Movies"")
"Better Than the Movies," based on Painter's 2021 novel, centers on Liz Buxbaum, who enlists the help of her neighbor to gain the attention of her crush, with her knowledge of rom-com movies proving useful. The film adaptation began production in Chicago on Thursday, directed by Julia Hart.
Phillippe's casting in the Netflix project comes just three months after his graduation from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in May. While he has primarily focused on a music career in production and songwriting, Phillippe has also engaged in modeling and acting.
His parents, Witherspoon and Phillippe, were a prominent couple in the late 1990s and early 2000s before their divorce was finalized in 2007. Both actors have spoken about their amicable co-parenting relationship. Witherspoon recently wrapped filming on the fifth and final season of "The Morning Show," set to air in 2027, and is reportedly dating Oliver Haarmann, a founding partner at Searchlight Capital.