Anne Hathaway To Star In Film Adaptation Of Harry Styles-Inspired Fan Fiction

Anne Hathaway is set to star in the film adaptation of “The Idea of You,” a popular fan-fiction novel inspired by Harry Styles.

Authored by Robinne Lee, the novel “The Idea of You” was published in 2017 and follows the story of a 39-year-old art gallery owner named Solene Marchand, who brings her daughter Isabelle to an event to meet her favorite boy band, August Moon. There, she meets and gets attracted to band member Hayes Campbell, who is almost 20 years younger than she is.

The novel’s description reveals that a passionate and genuine relationship later evolves from Solene and Hayes’ secret dates. “It is a journey that spans continents as Solene and Hayes navigate each other’s worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways in Paris and Miami,” the description reads.

In the film, Hathaway will play Sophie, a 40-year-old woman who went through a divorce after her husband chose to be with someone younger. After her estranged spouse cancels his Coachella trip with their daughter, Sophie is forced to take her to the festival, where she meets 24-year-old Hayes Campbell.

In a Q&A session with Lee, he discussed how Hayes in the novel will be different from Styles. “Hayes is different from Harry Styles. I think people who are aware of Harry and/or want to picture Harry will. And that’s completely fair, as the most successful British boy band of the last ten years is One Direction. And if you’re going to create a twenty-something popstar, you may want to start with a good head of hair and dimples, because why not?” he noted.

Lee also said that while Hayes’ character was inspired by Styles, “The Idea of You” was “never supposed to be a book about Harry Styles.”

“It was supposed to be a story about a woman approaching 40 and reclaiming her sexuality and rediscovering herself, just at the point that society traditionally writes women off as desirable and viable and whole,” he explained.

Written and executive produced by Jennifer Westfeldt, the film will be helmed by “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” director Michael Showalter. He will also produce the film alongside Hathaway, Lee, Jordana Mollick, Cathy Schulman, Kian Gass, Gabrielle Union and Eric Hayes.