You – the creepy show that has everyone hooked. Based on the book by Caroline Kepnes, the hit Netflix show stars Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, a stalker who is infatuated with the women he dates.
Using social media and his manipulative tactics, Joe goes to extreme lengths to insert himself into their lives before ultimately falling “hopelessly” in love. Though initially appearing charming and innocent, Joe’s true intentions are sinister, and he leaves a trail of destruction in his wake.
Throughout the four seasons of You – soon to be five – Joe adopts new identities as he tries to hide his dark past. Despite his efforts for a fresh start, his old habits always have a way of catching up with him.
The cast of You includes Victoria Pedretti as Love Quinn, Elizabeth Lail as Beck, Jenna Ortega as Ellie Alves, Dylan Arnold as Thoe Engler, Tati Gabrielle as Marienne Bellamy, and Shay Mitchell as Peach Salinger.
In this blog post, we’ll be looking at 10 behind-the-scenes facts about You on Netflix that you probably didn’t know about.
Penn Badgley almost didn’t play Joe Goldberg
As hard as it is to imagine Penn Badgley wasn’t very eager to play his character on the show.
One concern that the Gossip Girl actor had was that he feared the show would romanticise toxic behaviors, such as stalking.
Thankfully, producers convinced Penn to take the role by assuring him that the show would make it clear that Joe is the villain of the story.
Despite this, Penn revealed last year that playing a serial killer on TV has its challenges, admitting it “takes a toll” on him.
Speaking to Radio Times, he admitted: “When you fake-strangle somebody, your nervous system doesn’t quite know that you’re not [actually] strangling someone.
“When you see fake blood and you’re [pretending to] stab someone – your physical system isn’t used to seeing something visceral like that and it being fake. It does take a toll.
Another interesting fact that some fans will be surprised to know is that Penn Badgley isn’t a fan of social media. Ironically, his character is obsessed with it, as many people will already know.
TV Show vs Novel
If you’ve read the book, you know it differs from the TV series.
One of these changes includes adding a character that wasn’t originally in the novel. This is Joe’s young neighbor Paco (Luca Padovan), who was introduced to us in the first season of the show.
Pregnant star
Ever wondered why some stars didn’t always wear fashionable clothes? Well, one obvious reason is that one actress was pregnant on set. To hide her bump, Michaela McManus – who played Natalie Engler – was forced to wear baggy clothes.
James Scully and Melanie Field Reunite After Heathers
James Scully (Forty) and Melanie Field (Sunrise) teamed up after their roles in the TV adaptation of Heathers. Scully played the iconic JD, while Field portrayed the infamous Heather Chandler.
Season 2 Trailer: You Gets a Dark Twist with “Creep” Cover
The trailer for You Season 2 gave us all the chills. The eerie vibe is amped up with a haunting cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” by Michelle Branch.
It may come as a surprise to many fans but did you know that You was renewed for a second season in July 2018, just ahead of its series premiere that September? The show is that good!
Jameela Jamil Opens Up About Backing Out of You Season 4 Role
Actress Jameela Jamil was set to audition for a “sexy” supporting role in You Season 4. However, she backed out last-minute, saying she was uncomfortable with filming sex scenes and nudity.
During an interview on the Podcrushed podcast, which is hosted by Badgley, Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari, she said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been someone who would have enjoyed objectifying myself, personally.
“But that’s also because I have so much deep, like, childhood sexual trauma stuff. So I think that was never in the cards for me.”
She added: “You know, I still wear the… like, the little skirt or the busty top, but like, occasionally. But generally, I feel quite protective of myself in that way. Like, I don’t do sex scenes.”
Beck’s Apartment
We all know how crazy Joe was for Beck, a college student who was victim to a terrible fate at the hands of her obsessive boyfriend.
Living in New York, Beck was popular, enjoyed socialising, and read whenever she had the time. Beck meets Joe while he’s working at the bookshop she visits, and their lives soon become dangerously intertwined.
But did you know that Beck’s apartment address, 171 Bank St., is a real address in NYC’s West Village, although it is not a residential property?
Penn Badgley’s Voice-Over Role in You
In You, Penn Badgley’s role as Joe Goldberg relies heavily on voice-overs, with around 80% of his lines not requiring on-camera dialogue.