A new romantic comedy featuring Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page is coming to theaters on April 10, drawing excitement from their fans. Ahead of the movie’s release, several collegiate newspaper reporters discussed the film with the actors and the film’s producers during a virtual round table interview.
“You, Me & Tuscany” follows passionate and spontaneous cook Anna, played by Bailey, who plans an impromptu trip to Tuscany, Italy and decides to live in a vacant villa. In fear of blowing her cover, she pretends to be the owner’s fiancée, but things become challenging when she meets the owner’s cousin, Michael, played by Page.
The film is directed by Kat Cairo and produced by Johanna Byer, along with Will Packer, known for films like “Think Like a Man,” “Girls Trip” and “Ride Along.”
Bailey, an American singer and actress, said she drew inspiration from films like “13 Going on 30,” admiring the lead actress, Jennifer Garner, for her whimsical and brave personality, hoping to add that “magic” to the film.
Page, a British actor, agreed with Bailey’s stance on adding a making the romantic comedy lighthearted.
“We spoke a lot on really making this an uncynical rom-com. This is a rom-com absolutely committed to joy. Yes, it reflects the world as it is but [also] as the world can be,” Page said.
Black romantic films have typically seen less representation in Hollywood compared to other genres. According to a 2024 study conducted by the UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, only about 29.3 percent of Black, indigenous and people of color were featured as leads in the top-grossing films in 2023. Representation remains limited across several genres in Hollywood, especially in romantic films featuring people of color as leads.
Still, the filmmakers believe audiences are ready for the genre’s resurgence. Cairo pointed to a desire for “escapism, fun, joy and laughs,” while Packer stressed the role audiences play in shaping Hollywood trends. He believes that audiences aren’t getting enough joy in theaters and that it’s their power that determines whether more films that display it.
“It’s an opportunity there and audiences will decide if Hollywood continues to make these. Because at the end of the day, the audiences have the power, not big Hollywood folks. If [audiences] come out in mass, Hollywood will be looking for more,” Packer said.
For Bailey, the role marks a turning point in her career. She emphasized that she was able to showcase a more adult version of herself than in her previous roles in the “Little Mermaid” and “The Color Purple.”
“This is the first one where I feel I’m getting to play like a grown woman… I feel like I’m really entering the meat of my womanhood and Anna is the same. She’s figuring it out, but she’s grown,” Bailey said.
Bailey attests that her character in the film inspires her about her own life, adding that Anna’s boldness had a personal impact.
“It was so much fun tapping into Anna’s boldness… I love adopting these certain characteristics and traits from Anna because it made me feel more confident in myself,” Bailey said.
Page also emphasized the value of connecting with local environments and cultures and incorporating those experiences into the performance rather than using them as a backdrop.
“We found ways to personalize that [performance]. One of the most touching things was looking at the parallels… so we worked that into the script,” Page said.
Cairo and Packer believe in the wholeness of a love story, as the film features various relationship dynamics.
“One reason that this movie is a theatrical experience is because it’s not just about a man and a woman falling in love. It’s about a whole world and a family. We have created a whole universe in our little slice of Tuscany. You can identify with each one of the characters,” Cairo said.
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