Which Off-Campus Stars Tried Out for Various Book Roles?
The Off Campus cast resembles the book come to life — yet not every actor auditioned for the role they ultimately received.
Inspired by the book series authored by Elle Kennedy, the show debuted in May and chronicles the lives of an elite ice hockey team alongside the women connected to them.
Season 1 primarily focuses on the romance between Hannah (Ella Bright) and Garrett (Belmont Cameli), featuring several pivotal moments from their storyline in *The Deal*, albeit with updates. Meanwhile, the series hints at Allie (Mika Abdalla) and Dean (Stephen Kalyn) as potential leads for future seasons, despite their appearances in the third book of the series.
The remainder of the cast includes Jalen Thomas Brooks, Antonio Cipriano, Josh Heuston, and Steve Howey, with Charlie Evans and India Fowler joining as unexpected additions later in the season.
“It’s definitely fantastic to have the foundation of this wonderful book series to start with, but adapting it for television varies quite a bit,” showrunner Louisa Levy told Us Weekly in an exclusive interview. “We need to capture the audience’s attention differently.”
Levy elaborated on the transition from page to screen.
“We tell many stories from various perspectives. We have eight episodes rather than encompassing the entire book,” she explained. “Thus, we started with the elements that were absolutely essential — the ones without which it wouldn’t be *Off Campus*.”
She added: “From that point onward, we integrated as many book moments as possible, dropping them in like Easter eggs, while thoroughly working to externalize the characters’ inner lives.”
Continue reading for the most significant casting insights:
Stephen Kalyn
Before *Off Campus* cast him as Dean, Kalyn initially auditioned for the role of Logan.
“I thought I did well. However, the casting process is intriguing, and I understand why I wasn’t chosen,” he shared with Bustle in May 2026. “Then Dean came around, and I felt that was much more suited to me.”
Mika Abdalla
“I originally auditioned for Hannah,” admitted Abdalla, now portraying Allie, exclusively to Us. “I just sensed it wasn’t meant to be. Everyone felt that way. When I learned they wanted me back for Allie and finally got access to the scripts, I thought, ‘This feels right.’ Everything aligned perfectly.”
