Noah Centineo could have been the one that got away.

The To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before leading man returned to Netflix for his second rom-com of the summer in Sierra Burgess Is a Loser and he again stole hearts. Long before the film’s Sept. 7 release, though, he won over its director and earned a bigger role than he’d originally auditioned for.

Director Ian Samuels revealed to Vulture that Noah didn’t initially audition for the lead role of Jamey. Instead, he went in to read for a supporting part, which Ian thinks was “Spence,” the college boyfriend of Veronica (Kristine Froseth). Will Peltz eventually landed that part, and, as we know now, Noah got Jamey.

(Sierra Burgess Is a Loser via Netflix)

“We just loved him so much that we had him come back in and read for Jamey,” Ian told Vulture.

What they loved so much about him was what we all seem to adore: how he’s “not your typical blond, clean-cut, stereotypical male lead in a teen movie,” in Ian’s words.

“Something just feels very real about him, and approachable, but also he’s very charming and funny,” the director said.

Well, they were right that he was leading man material. Between playing Peter Kavinsky in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Jamey in Sierra Burgess Is a Loser, Noah is more popular than ever and has even become known as “the internet’s boyfriend.” Good thing they saw something special in him and locked him down.

The Sierra Burgess Is a Loser cast has some good dating advice. Click HERE to watch their rules for texting a crush.