Jeremy Allen White, aka everyone’s favorite stressed-out chef from “The Bear,” is about to hang up his apron and dive headfirst into a smorgasbord of emotions, steamy affairs, and existential crises. Netflix has roped him in to star in and executive produce a limited series adaptation of André Aciman’s novel Enigma Variations. (Because apparently, one Call Me by Your Name wasn’t enough heartbreak for Aciman fans.)
Let’s break this down: Jeremy, who’s apparently 33 but still looks like he could pass for a tortured college poet in a thrifted turtleneck, will be playing Paul—the human embodiment of a heart-shaped Rubik’s Cube. Think of Paul as the personification of that “it’s complicated” relationship status but with better scenery. The guy’s love life ping-pongs between dreamy southern Italy, snowy New England campuses, and even the occasional sweaty tennis court in Central Park. (If this doesn’t include a broody “You’ve Got Serve(d)” moment, we riot.)
The series is still in development, but if this thing gets the green light, it will officially be Aciman’s second novel to be adapted for the screen. The first, of course, was the Oscar-winning Call Me by Your Name, which gave us peach metaphors we’ll never unsee and enough Timothée Chalamet angst to last a lifetime. Let’s hope Enigma Variations brings the same drama—preferably with fewer fruit-related traumas.
Who’s in the Driver’s Seat?
Amanda Kate Shulman is taking charge as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. (Translation: She’s the one who’ll be making us cry with perfectly timed emotional sucker punches.) Oliver Hermanus, who’s set to direct and executive produce, will presumably make everything look so artsy that even Paul’s existential dread will feel like it belongs in the Louvre.
So, What’s the Deal with Paul?
The novel—and presumably the series—follows Paul through the chaotic mess that is his love life. As a young lad in Italy, he crushes on his parents’ cabinetmaker. (A man who clearly knows his way around wood, amirite?) Fast-forward to his adult years, and Paul is navigating flings, anonymous hookups, and enduring passions like he’s collecting emotional baggage for a frequent flyer program. Whether he’s on a snowy campus or a bustling New York street, Paul’s desires are fleeting, his fears are relentless, and his regrets? Oh, they’re practically co-stars. But through it all, one question lingers: Who even is Paul? (Spoiler alert: He probably doesn’t know either.)
Why Should We Care?
If you’ve ever felt like your love life could double as a tragic rom-com or if you just enjoy watching attractive people wrestle with their feelings in stunning locations, Enigma Variations is about to be your next obsession. Plus, Jeremy Allen White as a bisexual romantic lead? Netflix, take all our money.
Now, all we need is a release date and maybe a trailer featuring Jeremy dramatically staring into the middle distance while sipping espresso in Italy. Until then, we’ll be here, manifesting Enigma Variations and crying over our own love lives.
