Elisha Cuthbert Returns to TV Thanks to Book Tok with Every Year After - INTERVIEW

Elisha Cuthbert, known for her iconic early-career turns as Kim Bauer on '24' and Danielle in 'The Girl Next Door,' is making a major return to television with Prime Video's 'Every Year After.' In the romantic drama, she portrays Sue Florek, the mother whose presence and memory anchor a story about first love, heartbreak, family, and the ties that bind.

"I've come a long way from playing teenagers to now playing the mother," Cuthbert told this reporter in an interview via Zoom. "It feels right because I'm at an age now where I can bring authenticity to Sue's role. I have two children of my own, not quite teens yet, and this show really opened my eyes to this stage of life. Sue has an essence that is fun and joyful, and I wanted to lean into all of that."

Cuthbert was drawn to Sue not just for what the character represents on screen but for what she meant to her personally.

"I read the book and fell in love with Sue. The Sue I created in my own mind," she says. "Taking a little from the book, a little from the script, and melding those together, while talking with Carley Fortune about important aspects of Sue, really helped. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I too am a fan and I did not want to mess it up."

'Every Year After' is the television adaptation of Carley Fortune's bestselling 2022 novel 'Every Summer After,' which became a BookTok phenomenon and spent weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The story follows Persephone "Percy" Fraser and Sam Florek as childhood friends whose summers together evolve into a deep, enduring love and later into unresolved distance that resurfaces a decade later when they must face their past choices.

The series premieres on Prime Video on June 10, 2026, with all eight episodes released simultaneously, making it an ideal binge‑watch destination for summer.

Alongside Cuthbert, 'Every Year After' features a charismatic ensemble cast bringing Barry's Bay to life. Sadie Soverall stars as Percy Fraser, a woman who returns to her lakeside hometown after years away; Matt Cornett plays Sam Florek, Percy's first love whose chemistry with her spans summers and memories; and Michael Bradway portrays Sam's older brother Charlie. Supporting players include Aurora Perrineau as Chantal, Abigail Cowen as Delilah, and Joseph Chiu as Jordie, all of whom help populate the world Percy and Sam once knew so well.

The cast has been vocal about the care taken to honor the book's emotional impact. Cuthbert points to one early scene she was especially excited to see on screen, recounting, "I know when I read the scene in the novel, it gave me goosebumps and butterflies, and I was really excited to see them reconnect. I was very much looking forward to that scene in the show. That's when I knew the cast has really done a great job of bringing the story to life."

Reflecting on her place in the ensemble, Cuthbert says Sue's presence is both foundational and layered. "Sue is not just a mom in the background, she is part of the emotional core of this story. There is so much love, joy, regret, and strength. That's a rich place to live as an actor," she says.

The romance at the heart of 'Every Year After' may unfold between Percy and Sam, but the familial bonds and friendships give the story its enduring heartbeat. Cuthbert notes, "Even though the show is young adult, it also skews adult.

The relationships feel real and authentic. Younger viewers want to feel the romance and the love, and older viewers remember those summers that shaped them. I think everyone will find something to connect to."

For fans of the book and those new to the story alike, Cuthbert hopes viewers respond to Sue's warmth. "I really hope viewers who loved the book see Sue the way I did and enjoy her as much as I do," she says. With its blend of nostalgia, emotion, and sincere performances, 'Every Year After' promises to be one of Prime Video's breakout summer romances.

Originally published on Latin Times