The Summer of Matt Cornett is Here

      Amazon Prime Video is currently enjoying a notable success, both in terms of popularity and ratings. For the past four years, the streaming service has been a leader in the "YA BookTok series adaptation" category, delivering hit shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty, We Were Liars, My Fault, and the newly released Off Campus, which features talented and attractive cast members. It appears poised to continue this trend with its latest series, Every Year After, adapted from Carley Fortune's best-selling beach-read romance, Every Summer After. With its sunny themes of feel-good and second-chance love, complemented by music from Lana Del Rey and Dolly Parton, we are definitely intrigued.

      Every Year After tells the heartfelt friends-to-lovers tale of Persephone "Percy" Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) over six summers in the picturesque town of Barry's Bay. A decade after a life-altering mistake drives the young couple apart, a tragedy reunites them, providing a chance for renewed love. Cornett, known for his warm personality and captivating presence, is in line to become the internet's next favorite boyfriend through his convincing portrayal of the kind-hearted character Sam. Having transitioned from Disney projects like High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Zombies 3, Cornett is now stepping into his leading role, ready to charm audiences.

      Reflecting on your audition for Every Year After, what was that experience like? I received the initial audition while shooting a film in North Carolina. It was under a pseudonym for a romance project on Amazon, and I was thrilled to be considered for the lead role. Sam was characterized as a sweet and caring boy, and it was fascinating to know I would portray him at ages 16 and 28. I thought, "That's an intriguing concept." I submitted the audition but didn't hear back for a few months. Then, about three months later, my team informed me that they wanted me to come in to meet with the producers. I had completely forgotten about the audition. As actors, we go through auditions and then move on, so when I got the call to meet with Amy Harris, the showrunner, and one of the directors, it was a surprise. I was brought back in to meet with Amy again, and that's when she shared that the project was based on the book Every Summer After. At that time, I wasn't familiar with it since I wasn't into the romance genre. After our meeting, I decided to look it up, and to my surprise, the book was quite popular. When I went to Barnes & Noble to buy it, the book was prominently displayed as a featured summer read. I realized then that this was a significant opportunity.

      What were your initial thoughts on the story? I actually waited to read the book until after I had secured the role because I didn't want to get my hopes up and fall in love with it, only to find out I couldn't play the character. Once I got the part, I read the book, but it was a unique experience. I aimed to read it as a fan, but knowing I was going to be playing Sam made it difficult not to see myself in his character. As I read, I found myself falling for the characters and the storyline. Carley created a beautiful narrative, and the world she built is incredibly rich and detailed, filled with characters who have so much depth and emotion. I was particularly interested in how the storyline navigates between different timelines. I was excited to see how that would be executed in the show. As soon as I finished the book, I knew it was going to be something very special.

      What aspects of Sam did you relate to while reading? During my audition with Amy and one of the directors, I performed a scene that was a different version of what occurs in the show, which included a long monologue at Sue's memorial. While performing that scene, I had a single hair constantly falling into my face, which was quite irritating. I kept adjusting it, but it would always fall back. When I read the book, it mentioned Sam's long hair and that he sometimes had a hair hanging in front of his eye. I found that connection remarkable.

      There were many traits of Sam that resonated with me. He becomes a bit goofy when he feels comfortable, and I can relate to that aspect of him. He has such a kind heart and is fundamentally a good person. While he does have moments of uncertainty and hesitance, at his core, he's genuinely loving and caring, which I found very appealing.

      When did you first notice the book series' dedicated fan base? There are two moments that stand out to me. The first was when they announced the casting, which was nerve-wracking, as fans naturally have their own images of the characters. All of us were a bit anxious, hoping that fans would feel we were right for our roles.