Warning: this article contains spoilers for Nobody Wants This.
Netflix’s Nobody Wants This reunites Kristen Bell with a castmate from Veronica Mars. When discussing the Nobody Wants This cast with her spouse, Dax Shepard, on his podcast, Bell confessed she loves to work with friends and encourages Shepard to do the same (via Armchair Expert). The actress had an executive producer role in the series, meaning she had some say on who would play a role in the project. Bell herself picked Adam Brody as her co-star in the romantic comedy, having known the actor from their days as leads in the popular 2000s shows Veronica Mars and The OC.
Kristen Bell’s casting decisions had amazing results, with Nobody Wants This receiving a wave of positive reviews while claiming the number one place among Netflix’s Top 10 shows. Bell and Brody’s character pairing, an agnostic and sex-positive podcaster with a charming rabbi, offers a compelling and chemistry-filled star-crossed lovers’ dynamic. The series also features a number of the actress’ past teammates. Notably, Nobody Wants This serves as a reunion for The Good Place cast, and in episode 3, Bell shares screen-time with a Veronica Mars fan-favorite character.
Nobody Wants This Reunites Veronica Mars’ Kristen Bell & Ryan Hansen
Bell & Hansen Play Exes In Nobody Wants This
In Nobody Wants This, Veronica Mars vets Kristen Bell and Ryan Hansen reunite to portray on-screen exes. In the series, an anxious Joanne receives a message from Kyle, played by Hansen. Initially, Bell’s character ignores it, realizing the message is not from Noah (Adam Brody). However, she quickly changes her mind and calls Kyle back. While he flirtatiously intends to convince Joanne to spend the night, she suddenly asks him if he thinks she is a good person. Their hilarious conversation reveals they have a rocky casual relationship but are intimate enough for Joanne to want to ask him that question.
Joanne and Kyle’s interaction in Nobody Wants This is a funny bad-match exes dynamic also infused with true care, no doubt a result of Bell and Hansen’s long-time friendship. The actors first met on the Veronica Mars set, with Bell playing the show’s titular role and Hansen portraying the mean-but-fun character of Dick Casablancas. Hansen’s Veronica Mars character became a series regular in season 2 and all continuations of the show. He and Bell also worked together in the action movies CHiPS and Hit and Run, which also starred Bell’s husband, Dax Shepard.
Nobody Wants This Completely Changes Kristen Bell & Ryan Hansen’s Veronica Mars Dynamic
Hansen Plays Veronica’s Bully On Veronica Mars
For all their shared acting credits, Kristen Bell and Ryan Hansen’s amicable exes relationship in Nobody Wants This is a drastic change from their usual on-screen dynamics. The duo had a completely different relationship in Veronica Mars, as season 1 of the teen detective show saw Bell’s street-smart-with-heart character bullied by Dick Casablancas. While Mars soon started a romantic relationship with Casablancas’ best friend, Logan, the two characters teased and picked on each other whenever they met, and it took many seasons to establish a friendly alliance.
In season 1 of Veronica Mars, Dick was only intended to be an extra. Hansen’s character was set up as an irredeemable womanizer and bully responsible for hurting a lot of characters, including his little brother, Cassidy, and Veronica. A truce between Casablanca and Mars was out of the cards for season 1 and most of season 2. However, because Hansen had a natural charm, later seasons of the show included a character arc that led him to redeem himself, turning him into a fan favorite. Whether their characters hate, tolerate, or like each other, Kristen Bell and Ryan Hansen have maintained a decades-long friendship, and Nobody Wants This proves it.
Sources: Armchair Expert
