Regretting You Star McKenna Grace Gets Candid About Struggling With Hypotheticals

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Paramount Pictures’ film, Regretting You, is a complex and emotional romance inspired by Colleen Hoover’s popular novel. The story explores two intertwined love stories that develop in the aftermath of a devastating family tragedy, filled with secrets and the possibility of life-altering revelations.

McKenna Grace plays Clara Grant, a high school senior who unexpectedly falls for Miller Adams (Mason Thames, known from Black Phone 2). Meanwhile, Clara’s mother, Morgan (played by Allison Williams), begins to wonder if she made the right choice in her own relationship, a feeling echoed by Jonah Sullivan, portrayed by Dave Franco.

I recently chatted with McKenna Grace – you might remember her from the fantastic film Slanted, which I covered at SXSW earlier this year – and she really opened up about the central, unsettling question driving her new movie, Regretting You. It’s a genuinely thought-provoking premise she explores, and she was wonderfully honest about the ‘What If?’ at its core.

The actress confessed she often second-guesses herself, constantly wondering how things would have turned out if she’d made different choices. She explained that she focuses on learning from past experiences rather than dwelling on regrets.

I recently spoke with Grace, and she shared something really powerful. She basically said that every experience, good or bad, has shaped her into the person she is now, and ultimately, she wants to feel good about that – to be proud of the journey that’s gotten her here. It’s a really honest and relatable sentiment.

We also had the chance to interview star Sam Morelos, who plays Lexie, and director Josh Boone. You can find the complete interview below.

Regretting You hits theaters on October 24, 2025

Star McKenna Grace Opens Up About the Terrible Question of ‘What If?’

“What If I Pushed a Little Bit Harder?”

  • TopMob: “One of the things that connected with me was that question of, ‘what if things played out differently?’ It’s definitely a crux for me, personally. For you, is that something that you’ve ever gotten lost in and just kind of bogs you down? Because I feel like it’s a deep hole to fall into.”

I constantly second-guess myself, and it’s especially common in this industry. I often wonder ‘what if’ – what if I’d gotten a different role, or made a different choice? What if I’d tried harder for something else? It’s easy to get caught up in those thoughts. I really do find myself constantly questioning my past decisions and wondering how things might have turned out differently.

I’ve realized that instead of dwelling on past mistakes or regrets – things I wish had gone differently or that make me feel uncomfortable – I try to focus on learning from them. It’s not always easy to believe everything happens for a reason, but I make a conscious effort not to dwell on embarrassing moments or wish things had turned out differently; I simply try to learn from those experiences.

I’ve come to accept that all of my life experiences, both good and bad, have shaped me into the person I am today, and I’m proud of that. Right now, I’m content with who I’ve become. I don’t dwell on past ‘what-ifs’ or regrets; instead, I’ve learned from everything and embraced the journey that’s brought me here. I’m genuinely happy with where I am.

Sam Morelos describes themself as someone who overthinks things constantly. They find themself caught up in ‘what if’ scenarios, even about small choices, like questioning whether a different breakfast option would have been better. It all comes down to a nagging feeling of whether they’re making the right decisions.

A friend once advised me to stop overthinking a particular decision and try meditating. They felt I’d already made up my mind, and that constantly wondering ‘what if’ would only trap me in hypothetical scenarios instead of letting me focus on the present. I definitely find that hard to do.

We all have second thoughts sometimes, but there’s always a chance to try a different path. Even if you regret something, remember life is both short and long, meaning you can always make a new decision and start over. That’s a key theme in this movie – it reminds us that one choice doesn’t define us, and life continues to offer opportunities long after our youth. It’s a message about embracing life and enjoying the journey, and it’s something I particularly appreciate about the film.

The Cast and Director of Regretting You Talk About the Film’s Complicated Topics

“This Is a Romance Movie, But Also This Movie Is Tackling So Many Insane Traumas and Massive Events.”

  • TopMob: “The movie also asks some really hard questions and explores difficult topics, such as, the very real question of, did you end up with the right person? Can you talk about how the movie explores those tricky topics and how you feel it enhances the story that you are telling?”

McKenna Grace describes the movie as a love story that also deals with very difficult and impactful experiences. She believes this complexity makes it more realistic and moving, reflecting how messy and complicated life and relationships often are.

I think it’s understandable that not everyone will fully grasp the significance of this event, but many of us can connect with the characters’ messy and complicated emotions throughout the story. I found it to be a beautifully written and told narrative by Josh.

I think the story works because it grounds these large themes – like mother-daughter bonds and first love – in very specific, tense moments. Those moments act as anchors, and linking these big ideas to significant betrayals and events creates a strong and relatable structure.

Colleen Hoover is, at heart, a fantastic storyteller. The way she connected different elements and ideas in this book was incredibly detailed and thoughtful. It’s interesting how being very specific with details can actually make a story more relatable. Overall, it was a beautiful look at experiences many people can understand, even though it centered around a situation few have personally gone through.

Josh Boone explained that the film aimed to faithfully adapt Colleen Hoover’s book, striving for a high-quality adaptation that both fans and the filmmakers themselves would appreciate. He prefers staying true to the source material and doesn’t care for fan-created stories that deviate from it.

I really enjoy books that involve hands-on activities. I’m always aiming for a good mix of humor and emotion – I want readers to have fun, laugh, and even feel moved to tears. But ideally, those tears would be happy ones by the end.

I really wanted to create a film for teens. Growing up, it felt like five new movies came out every weekend, and there was always something specifically for teenagers playing in theaters. There were all kinds of stories – romances, family dramas, thrillers, sci-fi – but now it’s unusual to see a major studio release a movie that focuses on teenagers.

I’m really happy that Colleen Hoover’s popularity and her books have created an opportunity for this movie to get into theaters. Hopefully, it will offer something a little different – something moms and daughters can enjoy together – compared to most of what’s currently playing.

Director Josh Boone also voiced his excitement to be able to realize this story for the big screen:

I was really drawn to a story that perfectly captures that time in a young person’s life when they realize their parents aren’t perfect and had their own lives and aspirations before having kids. It’s something I think everyone goes through at some point – understanding their parents as individuals with their own pasts and dreams.

The full interviews can be watched below:

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2025-10-22 22:40