Kristen Bell has opened up about the challenge of convincing Adam Brody to star alongside her in the hit Netflix series Nobody Wants This. The actress, 45, told Red Magazine it took “months” to persuade the former O.C. star to play the role of Noah Roklov, the “hot rabbi” and romantic lead opposite Bell’s Joanne.

“I tried to convince Adam to do it for months, but he wasn’t interested in playing a romantic lead,” Bell admitted. “I’m still shocked he said yes.”

Bell explained she knew immediately that Brody was perfect for the part after reading the script. She praised his charm and versatility: “He’s kind of cookie-cutter, yet he’s not. He’ll pop up in weird projects here and there and only does work he feels is meaningful. Even when he’s playing a pessimistic character, he’s endlessly charming.”

The pair’s on-screen chemistry has been a highlight since Season 1, including their now-viral first kiss. Bell described filming that moment as “beautiful,” noting, “We decided everything before the kiss should be 10 times the length it should be… and then Adam put his hands on my face, and I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ And it just became entangled and beautiful.”

Season 2 of Nobody Wants This, streaming now on Netflix, continues the story of Joanne and Noah as they navigate merging their lives and social circles. The ensemble cast expands with characters like Joanne’s sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) and Noah’s siblings Sasha (Timothy Simons) and Esther (Jackie Tohn).

Also joining the season is Brody’s real-life wife, Leighton Meester, who guest stars as Abby, a former middle school rival of Joanne’s turned Instagram influencer. Brody shared that the best part of working with his wife on set was the “alone time” they got during commutes — “It’s sort of a date night,” he said. The couple married in 2014 and have two children together: daughter Arlo (born 2015) and a son (born 2020).

Season 2 builds on the first season’s success, showcasing the humor, romance, and ensemble dynamics that fans have come to love.