At nya Studios in Los Angeles, Prime Video’s Obsessed Fest was a celebration aimed squarely at the fans. It’s clear the streaming service is crafting a vibrant world filled with romance novels turned series, summery vibes, coming-of-age tales, and familiar faces returning for more screen time.
Benito Skinner, the mind and star behind Overcompensating, opened the event at nya Studios — a venue also known for hosting Hello Sunshine’s ShineAway festival. Skinner provided a brief introduction and later participated in a panel discussion about his show, which is eagerly anticipating its second season. He was accompanied by fellow cast members Mary Beth Barone, Wally Baram, and Owen Thiele.
“In our binge-watching, we find a unique talent,” Skinner remarked during his opening. “How many of you watched Overcompensating all at once? That’s great. And yes, wearing a diaper for it is totally acceptable. We’ve all been there.”
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In the “Over It, Into It” panel, Skinner reflected on a poignant scene from the first season where his character grapples with unsettling news and comes out to Carmen (played by Baram).
“I envisioned Carmen as a tribute to the women who have historically provided safe havens for queer individuals,” he explained, noting that the character was named after his late godmother, whom he never had the chance to come out to before her passing in college. “That day on set felt like we truly captured something special—the first heartbreak and the friend who’s there for you.”
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The casts and creators of popular series like Off Campus, Every Year After, and Maxton Hall, along with upcoming projects such as Hello Sunshine’s Elle and a Jenny Han-inspired gathering for The Devil’s Mouth starring Gavin Casalegno and Lana Condor, were present. The Jeff Wadlow survival thriller, also featuring Kathryn Newton, is a collaboration with Lionsgate and is not based on a preexisting novel.
Just a day prior, Amazon executives celebrated the ripple effect of their successful YA series. Peter Friedlander, Head of Amazon MGM Studios TV, commented on how the success of Off Campus positively impacted Every Year After. “Success breeds success,” he noted.
The event featured a mix of film and TV panels, book adaptation discussions with author signings, and musical performances, highlighting Amazon Music. A red carpet event showcased the extensive talent present.
Asha Banks, star of Your Fault: London, whose track “Too Busy Missing You” is featured in Off Campus, described the event as a chance to “network with other casts and engage in the expansive universe of Prime Video” before performing her song. She also mentioned that seasons two and three of A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder are set for an early Netflix release, having been shot consecutively with Your Fault: London and its sequel.
Off Campus is deep into its second season’s production, having been renewed early due to the success of its debut season. Similarly, Every Year After has been greenlit for a second season, which will continue to explore the novel and love story, One Golden Summer. On the carpet, Matt Cornett, who portrays Sam Florek in Every Year After, shared his hopes for a redemption arc and a more vulnerable side for Charlie in the upcoming season.
Fans of the Prime Video universe might also find it interesting that Cornett, known for his role in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and Gavin Casalegno, who plays the younger summer brother Jeremiah Fisher in The Summer I Turned Pretty, were once roommates.
Every Summer After author Carley Fortune was in attendance, as were Casey McQuiston of Red White And Royal Blue, Anna Todd of The Last Sunrise, and Mercedes Ron, author of Your Fault: London and Drawn Together (Enfrentados: Marfil), who has a first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios, to promote their film adaptations.
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Panels were organized into themes like “Passport Stamped,” featuring projects such as Your Fault: London, Drawn Together, The Last Sunrise, and Maxton Hall. The “Page to Screen Panel” focused on adaptations, while the “Dear Book Boyfriends” panel brought out stars like Matthew Broome and Damian Hardung for a discussion alongside Every Year After’s Matt Cornett and Michael Bradway, as well as Off Campus’s Belmont Cameli and Stephen Kalyn — the latter set to take over as the romantic lead in the show’s upcoming season.
Lexi Minetree, who plays Elle Woods, represented the next installment in the lineup, Elle season one, debuting just before the July holiday weekend. The show has already been renewed for a second season. On the red carpet, Minetree shared her experiences working with Never Have I Ever star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in the upcoming season, noting their frequent improvisations.
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Switching back to book adaptations, The Love Hypothesis stars Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman were also present to discuss their upcoming romantic comedy, set to premiere on the streamer on September 23. They also unveiled a teaser trailer.
Another intriguing project for Prime Video this fall includes Megan Park’s Sterling Point, set on a mysterious Canadian island reminiscent of Beechwood Island from We Were Liars. A teaser scene featured Ella Rubin’s Annie and Amélie Hoeferle’s Ramona.
We Were Liars, based on the bestselling novel by E. Lockhart, is currently filming its second season in Nova Scotia, Canada, the real-life setting for Beechwood. This contrasts with Every Year After, also filmed in Canada at Barry’s Bay and Bowen Island, British Columbia. Off Campus is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, with both its author and that of Every Summer After hailing from Canada. Overcompensating’s second season is currently being filmed in Toronto.
Looking ahead to next summer, Prime Video has plans for projects like the Christopher Briney and Michelle Randolph-led Clashing Through the Snow. Maxton Hall: The World Between Us is set to return for its third and final season in December 2026, as announced by Damian Hardung, who portrays James M. Beaufort in the series.
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While Deadline covered most of the talent at Obsessed Fest, a less crowded red carpet event was held Friday night with other media outlets and influencers for more personal interviews.
Allie Hayes (Mika Abdalla) in OFF CAMPUS
To cap off the event with a musical bang, Jennifer Lopez surprised attendees with a performance of “On the Floor,” which featured in season one of Off Campus starring Allie Hayes (Mika Abdalla). The connection extends further as JLo’s This Is Me Now: A Love Story (2024) is a Prime Video exclusive. Following her performance, The Beaches played an acoustic set, arguably opening for JLo with their song “Edge of the Earth,” also popularized through its inclusion in the hockey romance series.
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