Fast forward to now: “Emily” and “Vecna” have become icons of two completely different Netflix universes — and this long-forgotten romance has suddenly resurfaced, leaving fans genuinely stunned.

What were they like as a couple? Why did they really break up? And why does this love story feel so surreal in hindsight?
Read the full article to uncover this unexpected Hollywood plot twist

Long before Lily Collins became the face of Emily in Paris and Jamie Campbell Bower terrified audiences as Vecna in Stranger Things, the two actors once shared a very real Hollywood romance — one that many fans today are only just rediscovering.

Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower met while filming The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, where they played romantic leads. Off-screen chemistry soon followed. Beginning in 2012, the pair openly dated and never tried to hide their relationship, frequently appearing together in public and interacting flirtatiously on social media.

At the time, both were rising young stars navigating busy schedules and growing fame. Their relationship became one of the more talked-about young Hollywood romances of the early 2010s, marked by multiple breakups and reconciliations over the years.

According to widely reported biographies and interviews, Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower maintained an on-and-off relationship until 2018, officially ending things after nearly six years together. The reason given was simple and relatable: demanding work schedules and long periods apart made it difficult to sustain the relationship.

Since then, both have gone on to define entirely new chapters in their careers. Collins became globally recognized as Emily Cooper in Emily in Paris, while Bower reinvented his image with his chilling performance as Vecna in Stranger Things.

Though their romance ended years ago, the resurfacing of this relationship has sparked renewed fascination among fans — especially now that “Emily” and “Vecna” belong to two of Netflix’s most iconic worlds. What once felt like a fleeting young-love story has become a pop-culture crossover moment that feels almost surreal in hindsight.

Sometimes, Hollywood really does write the best plot twists — just not always on screen.