Kristen Bell and Adam Brody Reunite in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This

Kristen Bell may not remember the first time she met Adam Brody, but their chemistry is undeniable in their latest collaboration. The actors, both of whom rose to fame in the mid-2000s on beloved teen dramas—Bell with Veronica Mars and Brody with The O.C.—have shared the screen multiple times, including in Neil LaBute’s 2013 film Some Girl(s) and Showtime’s House of Lies. However, their newest project, the Netflix rom-com Nobody Wants This, marks a special reunion that both actors have been eagerly anticipating.

During a recent video call, Brody recalled their first significant meeting at a screening of 2011’s Scream 4, where they were both involved but didn’t share scenes. He amusingly described how Bell asked for a ride to an after-party and “folded” herself into the back of their two-seater car. While Bell doesn’t remember this moment, she quipped, “I’m not going to argue that that’s not on brand for something I would do if I needed to get to a secondary location.”

When Bell read the pilot for Nobody Wants This, a semiautobiographical series by Erin Foster, she knew immediately that Brody was her ideal co-star. “The reason I thought it could only be Adam is because I’m acutely aware of what other actors do well,” Bell explained to Harper’s Bazaar. “Adam can stare longingly into someone’s eyes for an extended period of time—and so can I. If someone can hold that eye contact space, you are going to crack a lens.”

Brody expressed his excitement about reuniting with Bell in a genre he enjoys. “Not only do I like watching romantic comedies, I like performing them. It’s a very fun space to play in,” he shared. He found Foster’s fresh and humorous take on romance to be a perfect fit for the project.

In Nobody Wants This, which premiered today, Brody plays Noah, an unconventional rabbi in Los Angeles who falls for Bell’s character, Joanne, a bold non-Jewish podcast host. Their instant chemistry ignites at a dinner party, but they soon grapple with the complexities of their relationship and how much they’re willing to compromise for love.

“I think one of the beautiful parts about this show is that it’s trying to depict something real and entertaining,” Bell remarked. “It’s more experiential than a calculated statement, especially since the characters are not 20-somethings. Many of my friends who are 38 are navigating similar questions about dating and settling down.”

In their conversation, Bell and Brody delve into the nuances of their collaboration, the evolution of their relationships with faith and religion, and the lessons they’ve learned about love—including the secrets to a memorable onscreen kiss.