Ever since Allie Hamilton chose Noah Calhoun over Lon Hammond, Jr. in 2004’s The Notebook, fans have wondered if Allie made the right decision. James Marsden, who stole viewers’ hearts as Lon, weighed in on the debate in a new interview with PEOPLE.
Lon is a handsome, wealthy lawyer from a prominent Southern family who’s engaged to marry Rachel McAdams’ Allie Hamilton, but the couple did not end up together. Instead, Allie married the rough-around-the-edges man who’s depicted as her one true love, Noah, played by Ryan Gosling.
The film, which was adapted from the 1996 novel of the same name written by Nicholas Sparks, has since sparked fierce debate amongst Lon and Noah fandoms about whether or not Allie made the right decision.
Related: Is The Notebook Based on a True Story? All About the Real Couple Who Inspired Noah and Allie’s Epic Romance
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE on the heels of his new Summer 2025 campaign with Dunkin’, Marsden set the record straight on whether or not he believes there should be justice for Lon.
“You know, it’s funny. I hear a lot of people nowadays that very kindly come up to me and say, ‘[Lon was] the whole package, you were like this wealthy guy, and you treated her right, and you trusted her and it was a healthy relationship and [Allie and Noah] were in an unhealthy, toxic relationship,” Marsden says of fans speaking to him of his fictional character. “While I see that and understand it, I mean, love is love.”
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The Notebook Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling
“The dynamic between [Allie and Noah] and their chemistry was undeniable,” Marsden continues. “And so I think, yeah, she should have ended up with Noah. That kind of love in that movie can be fiery and it can still be the right thing, the right person to be with.”
But Marsden is confident that somewhere out there, in another fictional universe, Lon has found his happy ending.
“Not that Lon is a bad guy, he’s a really good guy! But there’s another lady out there for him, I’m sure, that’s very happy,” he jokes.
Marsden recently began filming Your Friends & Neighbors season 2, alongside John Hamm and Olivia Munn.
Related: Ryan Gosling Says ‘The Notebook’ Director Cast Him Because He Had ‘No Natural Leading Man Qualities’
Though the actor says it’s the first time he’s joined a show during a second season after not having been involved since the beginning of the show’s inception, he’s enjoying his time filming and the show’s successes thus far.
“Your Friends & Neighbors is just hitting, doing really well,” he said. “It’s a fun thing to be a part of … they’ve been very welcoming, and it’s a fun role.”
New episodes of Your Friends & Neighbors are released on Fridays on Apple TV+. The second season will debut in 2026.
Read the original article on People
