screen frenzy would like to share an exclusive clip of The Legendary Life of AJ Fikry, which hits theaters on October 7. The film was directed and produced by Hans Canosa and stars Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks, Scott Foley and David Arquette. Based on Gabrielle Zevin’s New York Times bestseller of the same name. The Legendary Life of AJ Fikry follows Nayyar’s AJ Fikry through the ups and downs of his life.
AJ, a bookstore owner and widower played by Kunal Nayyar, becomes involved with Hale’s Amelia after losing his wife. When AJ’s prized collection of Edgar Allan Poe’s poems is stolen, it accelerates his downward spiral of grief, but also draws him closer to Amelia, who is herself an aspiring writer. AJ’s life is turned upside down again when he takes in Maya, an orphaned girl, and makes her part of his family. Elsewhere, Arquette’s officer helps Lambiase investigate the theft of AJ’s poems, while developing his own relationship with Hendricks’ Ismay.
In this exclusive clip, which you can watch above, Amelia meets AJ at his bookstore on Alice Island and tries to sell him her book. Hoping to get a sense of his taste, she asks him what he likes in a story, to which he responds by listing what he doesn’t like instead. From post-apocalyptic settings to children’s books, AJ shows that his aversions are far and wide when it comes to books.
The legendary life of AJ Fikry is ready to warm your heart
Kunal Nayyar and Lucy Hale’s chemistry is undeniable, even if AJ shows a rather chilly demeanor in the scene. Amelia’s warmth and optimism are an intriguing contrast to AJ’s cynicism at the start of their relationship. if The Legendary Life of AJ Fikry‘s trailer serves as the only indication, the connection between the titular character and Amelia will grow stronger as the story progresses. While the interaction between the two illustrates AJ’s pit of misery, his blunt way of listing his grievances against literature comes across as humorous and befitting a romantic comedy. His demeanor in this early scene will obviously evolve, especially with the addition of a child to care for and a relationship to nurture.
The Legendary Life of AJ Fikry promises to deliver a heartwarming story reminiscent of the source material. Canosa’s other films include 2019 Come as you Arewho executive produced, and 2005’s Conversations with other womenwhich he directed.
The Legendary Life of AJ Fikry opens in theaters on October 7.