Joel Courtney is taking center stage in 40 Dates and 40 Nights, and in a new exclusive interview with Us Weekly, he reflects on making the transition from memorable supporting roles to leading a romantic comedy opposite Bailee Madison.
After winning over audiences as Lee Flynn in Netflix's The Kissing Booth trilogy, Joel now stars as Mason, whose unexpected connection with Leah (Bailee Madison) becomes the emotional heart of 40 Dates and 40 Nights. The film follows Leah as she agrees to go on 40 dates in exchange for a year of free rent, only to discover that love doesn't always follow the plan.
In the interview, Joel credits his experience on The Kissing Booth with preparing him for this next step in his career, saying he learned the rhythms of romantic comedies before finally stepping into the leading role himself. He also praised Bailee Madison as a collaborative scene partner and spoke about the importance of rehearsal in developing the natural chemistry between Mason and Leah.
Joel also discussed working with director Andy Delaney and writer Sarah "Howie" Howard, describing the screenplay as heartfelt and reminiscent of the classic romantic comedies of the early 2000s. He believes audiences are once again embracing stories centered on genuine human connection, making this the perfect moment for a film like 40 Dates and 40 Nights.
40 Dates and 40 Nights opened in select theaters on June 26 and is now available on demand.
You can read the complete Us Weekly interview here.
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