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The director of 'The Idea of ​​You' reveals why the film avoided a 'tragic' book ending

The director of “The Idea of ​​You” openly explains why the film decided to deviate from the book's sad ending to a more hopeful ending.

Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine's book-to-film adaptation “The Idea of ​​You” definitely leaves viewers feeling better than the source material.

The romantic comedy follows art gallery owner Solène Marchand, who falls in love with boy band frontman Hayes Campbell and the two enter into a kind of forbidden romance due to their large age difference.

While the book left readers on a sad note, director Michael Showalter revealed why the film decided to avoid the tragic ending. Warning: Spoilers for “The Idea of ​​You” below!

“There is something tragic about the end of the book. And as a filmmaker and as a genre person, that's not the genre that this film represents,” Showalter told The Hollywood Reporter. “This is not a tragic love story. That's not what this movie really wants to be for me. I'm sure there will be fans of the book who really wish it wasn't like that.

“But we want these characters too, Robinne [Lee] created to open up new target groups. I think this genre doesn't mean they live happily ever after. I don't think the movie says that. But that certainly doesn't mean they don't. I think it leaves it a little open-ended.”

In the book, Solène and Hayes finally break up after Solène lied to him and told him that she never really loved him, just the idea of ​​him.

Lee ends the novel with the heartbreaking line: “And then one day they stopped. Long, long before I stopped loving him.”

However, in the film, the couple's seemingly temporary separation occurs as their public relationship affects Solène's teenage daughter Izzy.

Hayes suggests picking up where they left off after Izzy finishes school, and after a five-year time jump, Solène sees him on the Graham Norton Show, where he reveals he's taking a break from touring with his Put in the tape and drive to LA

The film ends with the couple meeting in Solène's art gallery and having a warm reunion, although the future of their relationship remains uncertain.

Showalter expressed complete satisfaction with the direction the film was taking, saying: “Of course, just like before the five years after, the film has a good ending, because you might still feel like, well, who knows ?”

“Maybe they will meet again five years later. But again, I kind of feel like this is the kind of film that ultimately is a very positive and hopefully very uplifting film. I think we just felt like it wasn't a bad movie. Something that would allow viewers to leave the movie feeling like maybe they'll be together again after watching the movie.”

“The Idea of ​​You” is now streaming on Prime Video. Once you're done bingeing the latest romantic comedy, be sure to check out all the movies, TV shows, true crime documentaries, and K-dramas streaming this month.

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