I Wish You All The Best Director & Stars On Adapting The Novel To Screen

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The heartfelt novel I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver has been adapted into a film, and the filmmakers worked hard to stay true to the book’s emotional core. The story follows Ben DeBacker, a high school senior who comes out as non-binary to their parents, only to be kicked out and forced to seek help from their sister, Hannah, whom they haven’t seen in a while.

Hannah and her husband, Thomas, welcome Ben and their baby into their home and arrange for Ben to continue their education at Thomas’s high school. Although they try to keep a low profile, Ben forms a connection with a friendly classmate named Nathan, and starts to develop feelings for him. They also bond with Ms. Lyons, the art teacher, who encourages Ben’s creativity and helps them deal with their difficult family life.

Tommy Dorfman, known for her roles in shows like Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and The CW’s Jane the Virgin, is making her debut as a feature film director with I Wish You All The Best. The film boasts a talented cast including Corey Fogelmanis (from My Life with the Walter Boys), Miles Gutierrez-Riley (Smile 2), Alexandra Daddario (Mayfair Witches), Cole Sprouse (Riverdale), and Lena Dunham (Girls).

With the film now in theaters following a successful premiere at South by Southwest 2024, ScreenRant spoke with Tommy Dorfman, Corey Fogelmanis, and Alexandra Daddario about I Wish You All The Best. Dorfman, who wrote and directed the movie, emphasized that the most crucial part of the original novel was its intimacy, explaining that the book deeply connects readers to the main character, Ben.

Tommy Dorfman explained that the story often feels like reading a personal diary, which made adapting it for the screen difficult. The challenge was finding a way to let the audience experience the story as intimately as readers do in the book – almost like being a silent observer alongside the character during a crucial six-month period of their life.

Dorfman felt deeply invested in portraying Ben’s complex emotions and once she figured out how to authentically capture his inner turmoil, the rest of the script came together naturally. Although they went through twenty different drafts before filming, most of that time was spent refining the story, focusing on details to create something both specific and relatable, ultimately allowing for the best performances.

Corey Fogelmanis Had To Be “As Present As Possible” To Capture Ben’s Ever-Changing Emotions

ScreenRant asked Corey about their role in I Wish You All The Best, noting that the character goes through a lot of internal emotional changes. They wanted to know what it was like to portray those subtle shifts – like when the character laughs and then cries, or when they’re discovering who they are – and how Corey made sure to capture all those nuances as an actor.

For me, being fully present was really important throughout the whole process. I’d never been in every scene of a movie before, so I focused on connecting with everyone and keeping my energy up. Interestingly, that felt similar to what my character was going through. I remember the first week was pretty confusing, which matched the scenes where Ben first arrives at Hannah’s house. I just tried to go with it and trust my instincts. Tommy, the director, was great at giving me feedback – letting me know what was working and what wasn’t – and helped me stay on track. Ultimately, it was about trusting the process.

ScreenRant asked Alexandra about the importance of trust among the cast, and she appreciated how well everyone connected. Then, turning to Corey, the interviewer pointed out how central building trust was to B’s storyline with Nathan and Ms. Lyons. They wondered if the connection between Lena and Miles felt genuine both on and off camera during their scenes together, even if answering might get Corey in trouble with one of them.

I’m going to say Miles deserves this one, simply because we spent much more time working together. We only had a single day with Lena, and I wish we’d had the whole shoot with her, but Miles really connected with me right away. I was still getting used to everything on that first day, and he was incredibly supportive and understanding. That connection off-camera was the foundation of Ben and Nathan’s relationship, and everything with Miles felt natural and amazing.

Alexandra Daddario Got To Explore Her Maternal Instincts Through Her Character

ScreenRant asked about the complexity of Hannah’s character, noting her desire to be a supportive sister and a good mother while also dealing with her own family responsibilities. They specifically asked about how the actor balanced these different aspects of Hannah’s personality, using the scene after the party—when B comes home late—as an example.

Alexandra Daddario feels playing this role was similar to the experience of becoming a mother, something she’s now experiencing herself. Even before having a child, she felt a strong desire to be a mom, and she believes motherhood is all about finding balance, staying calm, and offering support. It’s about helping younger people navigate their own lives and find their own paths, while still giving them the freedom to grow into who they are meant to be. She sees this as a beautiful and challenging role to portray.

ScreenRant commented on the strong connection between the actors on screen, and asked if that protective energy extended off-camera, especially since Corey is a rising star and the other actor has experience with both large-budget and independent films.

I’m really impressed with Corey as an actor; he has a bright future. Knowing how challenging it is to start out as a young performer, I was inspired by his journey and how he’s navigating it. Having support is crucial, and I was struck by how much Tommy supported Corey and how well they worked together. I’m confident Corey will always have people who genuinely care about him and are there for him.

ScreenRant noted that the film I Wish You All The Best debuted at the South by Southwest festival in 2024 and has received consistently positive feedback. They asked about the experience of seeing the film’s reception grow over the past year and a half.

Alexandra Daddario feels great about being involved in the film, even in a small role. She believes it tells an important story and is thrilled it’s being released for audiences to see.

ScreenRant asked if the actor read the original book to prepare for the movie, or if they relied entirely on the director’s vision.

I actually hadn’t read the book before this, which I’m a little embarrassed to admit. I really trusted director Tommy and her vision. I felt confident I understood the story and my character, and we all had a lot of fun working together. The atmosphere on set was very calm and peaceful, which allowed everyone to do their best work. It was a really great experience.

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2025-11-06 21:40