Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey are not officially confirmed as a couple, but they were photographed holding hands in Los Angeles on October 2, 2026, and that sighting is the strongest public evidence so far. Neither actor has issued a statement confirming or denying a relationship in any of the reports covering the photos. The pair recently played romantic leads in A24’s Deep Cuts, which is why fans have been watching them closely for months. Here is what the photos show, how the rumor built, and what remains unknown.
Are Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey dating? They have not confirmed it, but hand-holding photos from an October 2, 2026 Los Angeles outing have led outlets to describe the romance as seemingly confirmed. Treat it as a strong public sighting rather than an announcement, because neither actor has spoken about it.
TL;DR
- The sighting: Just Jared reported on October 2, 2026 that Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny were spotted holding hands on a casual outing in Los Angeles, with photos shared by DeuxMoi.
- No statement yet: Neither actor has publicly confirmed or denied dating, so the relationship rests on photos and fan timelines.
- How they connected: Both star as the romantic leads in A24’s Deep Cuts, a Sean Durkin adaptation of Holly Brickley’s novel that went into production in early 2026.
- Earlier hints: Cosmopolitan tracked reported hangouts on September 1 in London and September 2, 2026, before the hand-holding photos.
- Odessa A’zion context: Starkey was long linked to Odessa A’zion, but that relationship was never publicly defined, and fans have only speculated about any falling out.
- Margaret Qualley rumors: Starkey and his King Snake costar Margaret Qualley sparked rumors in May and June 2026, but those were never confirmed or denied.
- Ages: Just Jared lists Starkey as 32 and Spaeny as 28 at the time of the sighting.
Are Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey Dating? What the October 2 Photos Show
The October 2, 2026 photos show Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny holding hands during a casual outing in Los Angeles, which is the clearest sign yet that they are more than costars. Just Jared reported the sighting and noted that DeuxMoi had shared the photos. The same report said the outing led to reports that the pair had “confirmed a romance,” but that phrasing describes how the photos were read, not anything either actor said.
“Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny are sparking romance rumors!” (Just Jared, October 2, 2026)
Cosmopolitan framed the moment in a similar way. Its editors wrote that the two “seemingly confirmed” they are dating when they were spotted holding hands in LA on Friday, October 2. The word “seemingly” matters here, because it signals an inference from photos rather than a confirmation from the people involved.
What counts as evidence and what does not
It helps to separate the different kinds of information circulating online. Some of it is documented, and some of it is fan interpretation that may or may not hold up.
- Documented: Photos of the two holding hands in Los Angeles on October 2, 2026, as reported by Just Jared and Cosmopolitan.
- Documented: Their casting as romantic leads in Deep Cuts, reported by Deadline in December 2025.
- Reported by fans: Hangouts on September 1 in London and September 2, 2026, which Cosmopolitan cites through photos and TikTok screenshots.
- Speculation: Anonymous DeuxMoi tips about Starkey being seen with an unidentified woman, which fans guessed might be Spaeny based on sunglasses and clothing.
- Not available: Any statement, interview comment, or social media post from Starkey or Spaeny addressing the relationship.
Hand-holding in public is meaningful, and most celebrity relationships become public this way. Still, the only fair summary right now is that the two appear to be dating based on photos, and neither has said so in their own words.
Deep Cuts: How Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey Met On Screen
Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey were cast together as the romantic leads in Deep Cuts, an A24 film written and directed by Sean Durkin, and the dating rumors grew after production wrapped. Deadline broke the casting news on December 3, 2025. The film adapts Holly Brickley’s debut novel of the same name.
Deadline described the story this way:
“Set in the 2000s, Deep Cuts is a love story about two music-obsessed twentysomethings navigating the messy realities of ambition, belonging and adulthood over the course of an era-defining decade.” (Deadline, December 2025)
Why the casting drew attention
The project had a high profile before Spaeny and Starkey joined. According to Deadline, the adaptation was first set to star Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler, but both had to drop out because of scheduling conflicts. A24 then turned to Spaeny and Starkey, whom Deadline called two of the town’s biggest rising stars.
Deadline also reported that production would begin in February 2026. Grammy-winning musician Blake Mills is creating original music for the film, which fits a story built around two characters obsessed with music. Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, and Josh Safdie are producing through their Central banner, alongside Durkin, Anthony Katagas, Jordan Tappis, and A24.
Who else is in Deep Cuts
A March 2026 Deadline report added four more names to the cast. Those actors are Abubakr Ali, Quintessa Swindell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Gaby Hoffmann, and Deadline noted that their character details were being kept under wraps. The same report confirmed that Ariela Barer also stars alongside Spaeny and Starkey.
- Writer and director: Sean Durkin
- Romantic leads: Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey
- Also starring: Ariela Barer, Abubakr Ali, Quintessa Swindell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Gaby Hoffmann
- Original music: Blake Mills
- Source material: Holly Brickley’s novel Deep Cuts
No release date for Deep Cuts appears in the reports cited here. Fans should watch for an official announcement from A24 rather than rely on dates shared on social media.
Why on-screen chemistry fuels these rumors
Romance rumors often follow actors who play lovers, because fans look for signs that the connection carried over off camera. Cosmopolitan noted that fans spotted the two following each other on Apple Music during the production period. That detail alone proves very little, but it shows how closely the fandom was watching before the October photos appeared.
If you follow how film sets spark off-screen headlines, our breakdown of the Day Drinker Trailer Explained covers another project where a young star from Outer Banks is drawing attention beyond the show.
Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey Dating Timeline
The rumor built gradually over about ten months, from the December 2025 casting announcement to the October 2, 2026 hand-holding photos. The timeline below draws on Deadline, Just Jared, and Cosmopolitan, and it separates confirmed events from fan reports.
| Date | What happened | Status |
|---|---|---|
| December 3, 2025 | Deadline reports Spaeny and Starkey will lead A24’s Deep Cuts | Confirmed casting |
| January 26, 2026 | Odessa A’zion’s casting as Zoe Gutierrez is announced | Confirmed, later reversed |
| January 28, 2026 | A’zion explains on Instagram Stories that she is leaving the role | Her own statement |
| Early 2026 | Deep Cuts goes into production after the role is recast | Reported |
| May 30, 2026 | Starkey and Margaret Qualley spotted at a baseball game in Little Rock | Rumor, never confirmed |
| August 2026 | Fans notice Spaeny appears to have unfollowed A’zion | Fan observation |
| September 1 and 2, 2026 | Reports of the pair together in London and hanging out the next day | Fan reports and photos |
| October 2, 2026 | Photos show the pair holding hands in Los Angeles | Public sighting |
September 2026: the first hangout reports
Cosmopolitan reported that Spaeny and Starkey were photographed hanging out together on September 2, 2026. According to screenshots the outlet cited, a fan on TikTok said the two were also together in London on September 1. These reports raised interest, but they did not show anything more than two costars spending time together.
Airport and theater tips
Before the September photos, anonymous DeuxMoi tips claimed Starkey had been seen with an unidentified woman at the Atlanta airport and at a performance of Death of a Salesman in New York. Fans theorized that the woman might be Spaeny because of similar sunglasses and clothes she had worn before. Cosmopolitan was clear that this was unconfirmed, and it should be read that way.
October 2, 2026: the hand-holding photos
The October 2 sighting is what moved the story from speculation to something closer to confirmation. Just Jared described the outing as casual and said the photos showed the possible new couple “looking super cute together.” This is the single piece of evidence that most outlets now point to when they say the two are dating.
The Odessa A’zion and Margaret Qualley Context
Drew Starkey was linked to Odessa A’zion for years and later to Margaret Qualley, but neither relationship was ever publicly confirmed by the people involved. Both names come up in fan discussions about Spaeny and Starkey, so it helps to understand the background without treating rumors as facts.
Drew Starkey and Odessa A’zion
According to Cosmopolitan, Starkey and A’zion first sparked dating rumors after she posted a birthday tribute to him. The two played love interests in Hulu’s Hellraiser reboot and made several public appearances together over the years. However, Cosmopolitan noted that they never explicitly defined their relationship publicly, and Just Jared also described the link as never confirmed.
Odessa A’zion’s exit from Deep Cuts
A’zion’s casting in Deep Cuts was announced on January 26, 2026, for the role of Zoe Gutierrez, a character of Mexican and Jewish heritage. The announcement drew backlash from fans who raised concerns about the casting. On January 28, she explained her decision to step away on her Instagram Stories.
“It is SO important for me to let you in on how it all went down: I went in for Percy, but was offered Zoe instead and instantly said yes!” (Odessa A’zion, Instagram Stories, via Cosmopolitan)
She added that she had not read the book and “should have paid more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting,” and then said she was out of the project. Her own stated reason for leaving was the heritage of the character, not any personal conflict with the cast. Deadline’s March 2026 report lists Ariela Barer among the film’s stars.
The unfollow that fans noticed
In August 2026, fans noticed that Spaeny appeared to have unfollowed A’zion on social media. Cosmopolitan also reported that A’zion still appeared to follow Spaeny at the time. Nobody involved has explained the unfollow, so any claim about a feud or falling out is speculation.
Cosmopolitan also cited a 2020 detail from A’zion’s sister, Gideon, who said A’zion tattooed “1998,” Spaeny’s birth year, on the back of Spaeny’s neck. That story suggests the two were once close. It does not tell us anything about where their friendship stands now.
Margaret Qualley and King Snake
Starkey began filming the Jeff Nichols film King Snake with Margaret Qualley in 2026. Cosmopolitan reported that the two sparked dating rumors when they were spotted at a minor league baseball game in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 30, and were photographed at a swimming pool a few days later. Those rumors were never confirmed or denied, and the October photos with Spaeny have largely replaced that conversation.
None of the earlier rumors involving Odessa A’zion or Margaret Qualley were ever confirmed by the actors. Fan theories about who unfollowed whom are not evidence of a feud, and A’zion’s only public explanation for leaving Deep Cuts concerned the role itself.
Celebrity relationship stories move fast, and confirmed details are often thinner than headlines suggest. For a comparison with a case where the facts are on the record, see our Robert Pattinson Dating History, which separates confirmed relationships from rumors.
What Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny Are Known For
Drew Starkey is best known for Netflix’s Outer Banks, while Cailee Spaeny’s recent credits include Priscilla, Civil War, Alien: Romulus, and the second season of Beef. Both have had busy years, which partly explains why their joint project drew so much attention.
Drew Starkey’s career
Just Jared noted that Starkey has had a busy year with the final season of Outer Banks, his Apple TV series Lucky, and the movie Onslaught. According to Deadline, Lucky stars Anya Taylor-Joy. His earlier work includes the A24 film Queer, which Deadline called his big break, along with The Other Zoey and Hellraiser.
- Outer Banks (Netflix, final season)
- Lucky (Apple TV)
- Onslaught
- Queer (A24)
- Hellraiser (Hulu)
- The Other Zoey
- King Snake (with Margaret Qualley and Michael Shannon, per Deadline)
Outer Banks fans have had plenty to talk about in the show’s last stretch. Our explainer on Why Is JJ Missing From Outer Banks Season 5? covers one of the biggest questions from the final season.
Cailee Spaeny’s career
Deadline described Spaeny as an A24 favorite, with Deep Cuts marking her fourth leading role in an A24 production. She won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival for Priscilla and earned a Golden Globe nomination for the role. Just Jared added that the second season of Beef on Netflix drew wide acclaim.
- Beef Season 2 (Netflix)
- Priscilla (A24)
- Civil War (A24)
- Alien: Romulus
- Wake Up Dead Man (Netflix’s latest Knives Out film)
- Bad Times at the El Royale
- On the Basis of Sex
- Pacific Rim Uprising
How their careers overlap
Both actors have strong ties to A24, and both played opposite Daniel Craig in recent projects. Starkey appeared with Craig in Queer, and Spaeny starred alongside him in Wake Up Dead Man. That overlap does not prove anything about their personal lives, but it shows how often their professional paths have run in parallel.
What We Still Do Not Know
The biggest open question is whether Cailee Spaeny or Drew Starkey will ever address the relationship publicly, since neither has done so in any of the reporting so far. Many actors keep their relationships private for a long time, even after photos surface. A lack of comment is not a denial.
- How long they have been together: There is no confirmed start date, and the September hangouts may or may not have been romantic.
- Whether it started on set: Fans assume the connection began during Deep Cuts, but no one involved has said so.
- What happened with Odessa A’zion: The unfollow has no public explanation, and claims of a falling out are speculation.
- When Deep Cuts will release: No release date appears in the reports cited here.
- Whether they will appear together publicly: A joint red carpet or press appearance for Deep Cuts would be the most likely moment for clearer signals.
Public relationships among young stars tend to follow a pattern of quiet sightings first and confirmation later, if at all. For a recent example of a celebrity couple whose story moved from rumors to public milestones, read Dove Cameron and Damiano David Wedding Explained.
Bottom line: The October 2, 2026 hand-holding photos make a Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey romance look likely. Until either actor speaks about it, the accurate description is “reportedly dating” rather than “officially a couple.”
FAQ
Are Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey officially dating?
They have not officially confirmed it. They were photographed holding hands in Los Angeles on October 2, 2026, and outlets including Just Jared and Cosmopolitan have described the romance as seemingly confirmed based on those photos. Neither actor has made a public statement.
How did Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey meet?
They worked together as the romantic leads in A24’s Deep Cuts, which Deadline reported in December 2025. Sean Durkin wrote and directed the film, which is based on Holly Brickley’s novel. It is not publicly known whether they knew each other before the project.
How old are Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey?
Just Jared listed Drew Starkey as 32 and Cailee Spaeny as 28 in its October 2, 2026 report. Cosmopolitan’s timeline also notes that Spaeny was born in 1998.
Did Drew Starkey date Odessa A’zion?
Starkey and A’zion were linked for years and made several public appearances together, but Cosmopolitan reported that they never explicitly defined their relationship publicly. Just Jared also described those dating rumors as never confirmed.
Why did Odessa A’zion leave Deep Cuts?
A’zion was cast as Zoe Gutierrez, a character of Mexican and Jewish heritage, and faced backlash after the announcement on January 26, 2026. In her January 28 Instagram Stories, she said she had not read the book and should have paid more attention to the character before accepting, and she withdrew from the role.
Sources
- Just Jared: Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny Spotted Holding Hands, Months After Filming Deep Cuts Movie (October 2, 2026)
- Cosmopolitan: Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny Seemingly Confirm Romance Amid Rumored Falling Out With Odessa A’zion (October 2, 2026)
- Deadline: Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey to Star in Deep Cuts Adaptation for A24 and Sean Durkin (December 3, 2025)
- Deadline: Abubakr Ali, Quintessa Swindell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Gaby Hoffmann Join Deep Cuts (March 23, 2026)
