Joel Courtney recently joined director Andy Delaney for a new Moviefone interview about their romantic comedy 40 Dates and 40 Nights, which opened in theaters on June 26 and becomes available On Demand June 30.
The film stars Bailee Madison as Leah Jones, a struggling romantic who accepts a wager from her aunt, played by Annie Potts: go on 40 dates in 40 nights to find true love. Joel Courtney stars as Mason, opposite Madison in a story built around romance, comedy, friendship, and the messy search for connection.
In the interview, Joel talked about his first reaction to the screenplay and how he approached playing Mason. He described reading the script first as both an actor and a fan, looking for whether the story pulled him in and kept him turning the pages. For Joel, the humor and heart of Sarah Howard’s script gave him room to discover Mason scene by scene.
Joel also discussed building Mason and Leah’s relationship on screen with Bailee Madison. The two had known each other casually before filming, and Joel said that working together on set in Houston came together naturally. He credited Madison’s talent and collaboration, along with Delaney’s direction, for giving the cast room to play, explore, and find authentic moments between the characters.
Director Andy Delaney praised the casting of Joel Courtney and Bailee Madison, saying the production “struck gold” with the two leads. The movie also features Luxy Banner, Jai Rodriguez, and Annie Potts, adding a mix of romantic comedy energy and veteran screen presence to the ensemble.
Fans can read the full Moviefone interview for more from Joel Courtney and Andy Delaney on the making of 40 Dates and 40 Nights, including Joel’s thoughts on Mason, working with Bailee Madison, and finding the right chemistry for the film.
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