Emily in Paris’ Eugenio Franceschini Says Joining the Cast as Lily Collins’ New Love Interest Is an ‘Unexpected Gift’

Eugenio Franceschini is opening up about what it was like to join season 4 of Emily in Paris. 

In an interview with PEOPLE at the Rome premiere of the second half of the new season, Franceschini expressed his gratitude for the hit Netflix show. He says that the role snuck up on him as he was working on other projects, and now, he’s just taking it all in.

“For me it’s an unexpected gift, because everything happened very quickly,” he says. ”When I was selected, I was filming a TV series here in Italy, so I didn’t have time to realize what was happening.”

“So, I threw myself into something,” he adds.

Looking back on the season, Franceschini calls his time on the series “a great joy” and says he is excited to see how the role will play out in the future.

“My work is up to the [standard of the] series and this is the most important thing,” he says.

When it came to cast bonding, Franceschini — who plays Lily Collins’ titular character Emily’s love interest Marcello — says working so closely with the actress cultivated a friendship between the two.

“I worked with Lily all the time, so, yeah, she is [my closest friend],” he continues.

As an Italian native who grew up in the northern region of Verona, he also reflects about filming the show in the capital city Rome.

“The most iconic spots,” he reminisces. “Fontana di Trevi at the sunrise — I saw the Fontana di Trevi completely empty for the first time in my life just for us. It was a big, big emotion.”

“I think this is something that I will keep forever in my mind and my heart,” Franceschini concluded.

In part 1 of Emily in Paris season 4, Emily was navigating her feelings for chef Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), and it ended on a cliffhanger of him confessing that he loves her. Part 2 now finds Emily in Rome — on the back of a Vespa with Franceschini’s Marcello.

“So now you’ve been with a French guy, a British buy and now Italian? You’re really stamping your passport, huh?” Mindy (Ashley Park) teased Emily in the trailer.

“It’s not the first time you’ve mixed business with pleasure,” Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulie), Emily’s boss, later tells Emily, “You’re actually quite good at it.”

According to Netflix’s official synopsis for the season conclusion, “Emily and Gabriel’s chemistry is undeniable as they work together towards a Michelin star [for his restaurant], but two big secrets threaten to undo everything they’ve dreamed of. As old patterns clash with new complications, Emily feels drawn to a potential new love interest… and a new city.”

Emily in Paris Season 4 Part 1 is now streaming and Part 2 will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, Sept. 12.