Netflix now eyes the Marvel star Oscar Isaac and three-time Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan as Beef Season 2 leads.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Jamie Randall and Anne Hathaway’s Maggie Murdock had exceptional chemistry in the 2010 Edward Zwick movie, Love & Other Drugs. It was the exact reason why fans were excited when rumors surfaced about the duo reuniting for the second season of Netflix’s Emmy-winning anthology series, Beef. However, the latest rumors about the series are devastating for Love & Other Drugs fans.

According to reports, the series is looking to cast Moon Knight star Oscar Isaac and Promising Young Woman star Carey Mulligan in Season 2. The second season will reportedly revolve around two feuding couples.

Love & Other Drugs Fans Are Upset About The New Beef Rumors

Netflix’s Beef won several accolades at the Primetime Emmys and the Golden Globes. The first season of the series showed how a road rage incident between characters played by Steven Yeun and Ali Wong escalates into a full-fledged feud.

In February 2024, reports emerged that Netflix was exploring a second season with an ensemble cast including Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Anne Hathaway. Fans were excited about the prospect of Gyllenhaal and Hathaway reuniting after Brokeback Mountain and Love & Other Drugs.

However, Deadline now reports that Netflix is eyeing a new pair instead of Hathaway and Gyllenhaal. Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan are reportedly in negotiations at Netflix to star in the second season. The pair had earlier acted together in Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis. While some fans are disappointed over losing the earlier pair, others are excited to see the new two talents.

One fan on X shared that the new casting choice was meant to be after Isaac and Mulligan’s chemistry in Inside Llewyn Davis. However, another fan shared that they should cancel the season if the Enemy actor wasn’t cast in the role. One fan shared that Gyllenhaal and Hathaway in the series would’ve been lit, but the current casting was good as well.

Another fan suggested that Isaac and Mulligan were aiming for Emmys after getting unlucky with the Oscars multiple times. One fan expressed disappointment over the much-awaited Love & Other Drugs reunion getting canceled. Some of the fan reactions read:

Both Isaac and Mulligan are at a peak point in their careers. Isaac broke into two major franchises, Marvel and Dune, and earned an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Scenes from a Marriage. Carey Mulligan just lost her third Oscar nomination after her critically acclaimed performance in Bradley Cooper’s Maestro.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway’s Chemistry In Love & Other Drugs Worked Exceptionally Well

Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway‘s 2010 film explored the relationship between Jamie Randall and Maggie Murdock, who suffers from an early onset of Parkinson’s disease. While Gyllenhaal and Hathaway worked together in Brokeback Mountain, they did not have much of an onscreen chemistry. When it came to this film, they shared a lot of steamy scenes between them.

The two actors eventually developed a friendship and Gyllenhaal made sure that his co-star was comfortable in the s*x scenes in the movie (via Hollywood Life). Both actors agreed that the s*x scenes helped them form a better relationship than what they had during Brokeback Mountain.

In an interview with GQ Magazine, Gyllenhaal disclosed that they engaged in intimate heart-to-heart conversations during the film (via Cosmopolitan). This relationship between the actors connected well with the audience as well. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, it grossed $102 million at the box office against a budget of $30 million (via Box Office Mojo).