'My Oxford Year' stars discuss film's shocking end

My Oxford Year stars Corey Mylchreest and Sofia Carson discussed the different ending from the book.

The actors played the lead in Netflix’s adaptation of Julia Whelan’s book by the same name.

In conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Corey says the direction the writers took for his character was “better”, adding, “ it would feel like hypocrisy for Jamie to speak all these things and for Anna to be understanding that philosophy of life [and not end there].”

The author of the book lets Jamie, played by Corey, go on a European tour with Anna (Sofia) after he agrees to continue his cancer treatment. However, in the film, Jamie passes away with Anna holding his hand.

The Queen Charlotte actor explained that his character believed in living in the moment since he didn’t have much time left, and the book's ending was “undervaluing his beliefs.”

Later in the interview, Sofia pointed out that the female lead is alone by the end of the film, and the producers wanted to end the movie with “hope and light.”

Notably, the Descendents star admitted that the fate of Jamie was not decided until the final cut. She confessed that she didn’t want to see Anna end up alone.

For the unversed, My Oxford Year was released on August 1, 2025, on Netflix, with Sofia Carson serving as one of the producers. 

RELATED: Sofia Carson, Corey Mylchreest star in new rom-com movie, ‘My Oxford Year’