Off-Campus Showrunner Shares the Storylines She Wouldn’t Part With
While Prime Video’s Off Campus definitely took creative liberties as a television adaptation, showrunner Louisa Levy was determined to capture the most significant literary moments.
“I understand that fans, due to the trailer, might think we’re skipping the sexual assault backstory, [but] that was a nonnegotiable,” Levy remarked on the Thursday, May 14, episode of the “Off the Shelf” podcast. “There was no scenario where I would permit that to be overlooked. It’s crucial to what makes this book unique and special, and how Elle [Kennedy] portrayed it.
Off Campus is based on Kennedy’s acclaimed hockey romance series of the same name, where each installment chronicles one of four college athletes finding love. The first season of the Prime Video series draws inspiration from The Deal, featuring Briar University hockey captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) who starts a fake dating arrangement with Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), leading to real feelings. In both the book and show, Hannah struggles with trauma from being sexually assaulted in high school.
“Hannah is a character who, despite her darker and heavier background, is incredibly light and bubbly and optimistic,” Levy shared. “That’s what drew me to her, and I believe without the darkness, her lightness would seem flat or less engaging.”
Alongside preserving Hannah’s history, Levy was equally committed to keeping Garrett’s own childhood experiences with abuse intact.
“That aspect also cannot be removed because it plays a vital role in making them perfect for each other,” Levy explained. “We learn about Hannah’s backstory right on page one of the book. In the show, we don’t reveal it that early because … I didn’t want Hannah to be defined by that since she herself doesn’t want to be defined by it.”
She added, “In a book, you can delve into her thoughts and see that she doesn’t wish to be defined by that, but the moment it’s openly addressed on TV, the character risks being pigeonholed, even if she claims she doesn’t want that. We decided in the writer’s room to make it part of her arc that she opts not to disclose it, and because she remains silent, her closest peers at school are unaware of this aspect of her. By that lack of knowledge, it ends up defining her.”
Levy also ensured that the level of steamy scenes, which book fans have come to appreciate, was faithfully replicated.
“It’s essential to their story,” she noted. “Not only does it enhance the enjoyment of the book, but it’s vital for Hannah’s character development. It’s integral, and that’s pretty rare. Many romance novels include sex as an element but don’t tie it into the character’s journey. Elle made it an essential part of her character arc, which was a significant reason I was thrilled about these books — it’s necessary.”
Off Campus has already been confirmed for a second season, where either Dean (Stephen Kalyn), Logan (Antonio Cipriano), or Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks) will take the spotlight with their respective love interests, Allie (Mika Abdalla), Grace (India Fowler), and Sabrina.
Off Campus is currently streaming on Prime Video.
