Is The Idea of You Based on a True Story?

Does The Idea of You, with its depiction of age-gaps, Coachella, and a whirlwind summer romance, have any basis in real life?

Prime Video’s The Idea of You, set to release in 2024, has the potential to revolutionize the rom-com genre. The film follows single mother Solène, played by Anne Hathaway, and pop sensation Hayes, played by Nicholas Galitzine, as they unexpectedly fall in love after crossing paths at a notorious music festival.

Despite initial concerns about potential cliches, The Idea of You manages to surprise and impress with its blend of entertainment and thought-provoking themes. Anne Hathaway leads the way in tackling societal taboos like age-gap relationships, single motherhood, and broken families, providing a refreshing reminder that women over a certain age can find happiness. This was reflected in our four-star review.

Is The Idea of You based on a true story, with the movie being available to stream on Prime Video from May 2?

Is The Idea of You Based on a True Story?

No, The Idea of You is not a true story, but it is said to be influenced by real events. The movie is adapted from the book of the same title written by Robinne Lee in 2017.

Solene and Hayes in The Idea of You — Prime Video

First published in 2017, it wasn’t until 2020 that Lee’s novel gained widespread popularity, quickly becoming a must-read during the pandemic. In an interview with The Guardian, Lee revealed that her inspiration for the story came from watching a boyband video on YouTube. She jokingly told her husband, “I’m going to run off and follow this perfect guy and his band around the world.”He laughed and replied, “You’re

In comparing the book to the movie, several notable differences can be found, particularly in the ages of the characters. While Solène is depicted as 40 years old and Hayes as 24 in the film, in the original book, Solène is 39 and Hayes is 20. Additionally, the age of Solène’s daughter is much younger in the novel at only 12 years old, contrasting with her older portrayal in the movie.

Despite the change from movie to book, critics have pointed out that director Michael Showalter has toned down the original steaminess of the novel. In her article for British Vogue, Michelle Ruiz noted that the film adaptation of The Idea of You has transformed the daring story into something safer and less intense.

Additionally, Showalter deliberately opted to alter the conclusion of the story, as he revealed in an exclusive interview with Radio Times, stating, “As both a filmmaker and a fan of romantic comedies and films, it seemed fitting to provide the audience with a hopeful ending for this particular movie.”

“Therefore, there were other possible endings for the movie. Nevertheless, the most important factor to consider when creating a film like this is the audience.”

Who is the character Hayes Campbell based on?

In a 2020 interview with Vogue, Lee revealed that Hayes Campbell was a fusion of real-life figures Prince Harry and Harry Styles.

Hayes Campbell in The Idea of You — Prime Video

After disclosing that the aforementioned YouTube videos featured Styles, Lee informed Vogue that Hayes is meant to be a combination of “Prince Harry and Harry Styles.” However, she also clarified that The Idea of You does not revolve solely around Hayes.

“According to Lee, a woman in her late 30s is reclaiming her sexuality and rediscovering herself, at a time when society typically deems women as no longer desirable, viable or whole.”

When asked by Buzzfeed about his inspiration for playing Hayes, Galitzine expressed similar thoughts. He explained that he aimed to create a character who resembled Harry in the sense that he is a younger man dating older women.

Galitzine stated his desire to avoid creating a cheap imitation of the person and instead aimed to make someone who felt fresh and unique.

Not only has there been widespread fan speculation about the connections between Hayes and Harry, but some also believe that Solène is meant to resemble his ex-girlfriend, Olivia Wilde.

Is The Idea of You Based on Fanfiction?

Despite some apparent similarities, Robinne Lee has firmly rejected the notion that The Idea of You is derived from fanfiction.

Fans have continuously pointed to Lee’s 2020 interview with Vogue as evidence that The Idea of You does not embody fanfiction, despite several articles claiming it to be one.

While there may not be obvious references to One Direction in the movie, there are still clear connections to the band. The fictional boyband August Moon features catchy songs, thanks to the help of songwriters Carl Folk and Savan Kotecha, who have previously worked on the hit song ‘What Makes You Beautiful’. Both Folk and Kotecha are credited as producers and composers for the song ‘Dance Before We Walk.’

Followers have also noted the resemblances between a photo of Styles during a One Direction photoshoot and Hayes in a promotional poster released by Prime Video.

Discover a plethora of incredible movies, TV shows, and true crime documentaries to binge on streaming services this month. And if that’s not sufficient, stay updated on the latest K-drama releases for the rest of the year.