Let’s be real. When The Kissing Booth 2 dropped on Netflix, half the world was watching for the teen drama, and the other half was scanning the screen to see if Joey King and Jacob Elordi could actually stand to be in the same room together after their real-life breakup. It was a whole thing. But beyond the tabloid gossip, the Kissing Booth 2 cast ended up being this weirdly perfect mix of returning favorites and new faces that actually made the sequel arguably better than the first one. Usually, sequels feel like a cheap cash grab, but adding some fresh blood to the roster changed the dynamic in a way that kept the story from just repeating the same old "best friend's brother" tropes.
The core trio that held it all together
You can't talk about this movie without starting with Joey King. She plays Elle Evans with this frantic, high-energy charm that is basically the engine of the entire franchise. Honestly, King carries a lot of the emotional weight here. In this installment, Elle is a high school senior dealing with the long-distance relationship blues because Noah is off at Harvard.
Speaking of Noah, Jacob Elordi returned as the brooding Flynt brother, though his role feels a bit more distant this time—literally and figuratively. There was so much speculation about his vibe on set. Fans noticed he looked a little "over it" in some scenes, but if you think about the character of Noah Flynn, he's supposed to be struggling with the pressure of Ivy League life and a new social circle. Maybe it was method acting? Or maybe it was just the awkwardness of working with an ex. Either way, it worked for the plot.
Then there’s Joel Courtney as Lee Flynn. He’s the heart of the "rules." In the second movie, his character has to deal with the reality that his best friend and his girlfriend, Rachel, are constantly clashing. Courtney plays the "lovable but slightly oblivious" friend so well that you almost forget how annoying some of those friendship rules actually are in real life.
The newcomers who stole the spotlight
If we're being totally honest, the Kissing Booth 2 cast would have felt a little stale if they hadn't brought in Taylor Zakhar Perez. He played Marco Valentin Peña. You know, the guy who plays guitar, runs like a gazelle, and looks like he was sculpted by the gods? He was the ultimate "Team Marco" catalyst.
Perez wasn't just there for eye candy, though. He provided the first real threat to Noah and Elle’s relationship. Unlike the first movie where the obstacles were mostly Elle’s own secrets, Marco was a tangible alternative—someone who was actually there for Elle while Noah was thousands of miles away. The scene at the Dance Dance Mania competition? That was the moment everyone realized Perez was going to be a massive star.
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And we have to talk about Maisie Richardson-Sellers. She played Chloe Winthrop, the sophisticated, brilliant girl Noah meets at Harvard. For most of the movie, she’s set up to be the "villain" in Elle's mind. The "other woman." But the writers did something cool here. Chloe wasn't actually a bad person. She was just a friend. It forced Elle (and the audience) to confront their own insecurities rather than just hating on a new female character for no reason.
Breaking down the supporting players
It wasn't just about the love pentagon. The world of the movie felt bigger because of the people in the background.
- Meganne Young as Rachel: She finally got some agency in this movie. In the first film, she was just "the girlfriend." In the sequel, she’s actually standing up for herself because Elle is constantly third-wheeling her relationship with Lee.
- Molly Ringwald as Mrs. Flynn: I mean, it’s Molly Ringwald. Having an 80s teen movie icon play the mother of the new generation of teen heartthrobs is a chef's kiss casting choice. She doesn't have a ton of screen time, but she brings a certain level of gravitas to the "mom" role.
- Stephen Jennings as Bill Evans: Elle's dad is just trying his best. He’s the grounding force in her life, especially as she navigates the terrifying world of college applications and financial aid.
Why the chemistry felt different this time around
The production went back to South Africa to film, despite the story being set in California and Boston. There is a specific kind of energy in the Kissing Booth 2 cast that feels more professional than the first. In the original movie, it felt like a group of kids having fun. By the second one, you can tell these actors are leaning into the "Netflix Original" machine.
The rehearsals for the dance sequences were intense. Taylor Zakhar Perez actually had to learn how to play the guitar and practice those DDR-style moves for weeks. It paid off because those scenes are some of the most memorable in the film.
There's also the "Harvard" crowd. Even though we don't spend as much time with them, they had to feel distinct from the "Reseda High" kids. The casting directors looked for actors who could portray that sort of effortless, wealthy intellectualism that would make Elle feel completely out of place. It’s that contrast that makes the conflict feel real.
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Addressing the "awkwardness" rumors
Everyone wants to know if the cast actually got along. From most interviews, it seems like the answer is yes. Joey King has been very vocal about how professional she and Jacob Elordi were. She basically said that making the sacrifice of working with an ex was worth it for the sake of the fans and the story.
That maturity actually helped the film. The tension between Elle and Noah in the sequel isn't just "happy-go-lucky" love anymore. It’s strained. It’s complicated. If they had still been dating in real life, maybe they wouldn't have captured that specific "we are drifting apart" vibe as effectively.
The impact on the actors' careers
This movie was a massive launching pad. Before this, Taylor Zakhar Perez wasn't a household name. Now? He's a leading man in major rom-coms and prestige TV. Jacob Elordi used the momentum from this franchise to pivot into much darker, more serious roles like Euphoria and Priscilla.
It’s interesting to see how the Kissing Booth 2 cast used this platform. Some embraced the teen idol status, while others used it as a stepping stone to get away from it as fast as possible.
The movie also did a lot for Joey King’s production aspirations. She became one of the youngest people to ink a deal with Netflix to produce content. She wasn't just the star; she was becoming a power player behind the scenes.
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Real world locations and production secrets
Did you know the "Harvard" scenes were mostly filmed at the University of Cape Town? The architecture was just "old" enough to pass for an Ivy League school to the untrained eye.
The cast spent a lot of time together off-camera in Cape Town, which helped build the camaraderie you see on screen. Even the "OMG Girls" (played by Jessica Sutton, Zandile Madliwa, and Bianca Bosch) have this synchronized, mean-girl energy that only comes from actors who actually enjoy working together.
What to take away from the cast dynamics
When you look at the Kissing Booth 2 cast, you're looking at a blueprint for how to do a sequel right. You keep the people the audience already loves, you add a "disruptor" (Marco), and you add a "mirror" (Chloe) to show the protagonist what they're afraid of becoming or losing.
If you're planning a rewatch, keep an eye on the background characters. There are a lot of small performances from South African actors who make the school environment feel lived-in.
For those looking to follow the cast today, here is the move:
- Follow Taylor Zakhar Perez if you want to see how a breakout star manages a sudden rise to fame—he’s been very strategic about his post-Netflix roles.
- Watch Joey King’s work in The Act or A Family Affair to see her range outside of the Elle Evans character.
- Check out Jacob Elordi’s filmography if you want to see a total 180-degree turn from the "Noah Flynn" persona. He has worked hard to distance himself from the "pretty boy" trope.
- Look for Maisie Richardson-Sellers in Legends of Tomorrow to see her in a completely different genre.
The legacy of the Kissing Booth 2 cast isn't just about a teen movie. It's about a group of actors who took a simple story and turned it into a cultural moment that defined a specific era of streaming entertainment. Whether you're Team Noah or Team Marco, you have to admit the casting was spot on.