The newly released romantic comedy, The Idea of You, is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Devoted viewers who have seen it through to the final scene may have observed a variance between the film’s ending and the conclusion depicted in the original book.
Led by Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, The Idea of You is a screen adaptation of Robinne Lee’s acclaimed 2017 novel bearing the same title.
The narrative revolves around the intricate romantic entanglement between a 40-year-old single mother, portrayed by Hathaway, and Hayes Campbell, played by Galitzine, the frontman of the renowned boy band August Moon.
Before the film hit the screens, speculations among fans on social media suggested that The Idea of You drew inspiration from Harry Styles fan fiction.
Notably, Styles and the character Hayes share striking resemblances, such as belonging to a five-member boy band, sharing a penchant for tattoos, and a track record of dating older women.
However, Robinne Lee swiftly dispelled these rumors, asserting that her book is not based on fan fiction. In an essay contributed to Time.com coinciding with the film’s release, she emphasized,
“Labeling it as ‘fluff’ or ‘fanfiction’—particularly when done by those who have not read it—is both reductive and dismissive.”
The author also denied that the book has a direct connection to Styles.
“Assuming a novel with a fictional celebrity in a relationship must be based on an existing celebrity—in this case, the internet has decided, Harry Styles—is unimaginative at best and sexist at worst,” she wrote.
In 2020, Lee told that Hayes drew inspiration from “Prince Harry-meets-Harry [Styles]”, ex-boyfriends, her husband, and “a dash” of actor Eddie Redmayne.
Premiering on Prime Video on May 2, The Idea of You underwent adaptation by director Michael Showalter, who exercised some creative liberties, notably altering the ending from the cherished book.
The Idea of You Ending Explained
In the novel, Solène makes the difficult decision to end her relationship with Hayes due to their divergent life stages.
However, a few weeks later, during a break from his tour, Hayes unexpectedly appears at her door, distressed over their breakup.
Their encounter leads to a passionate reunion, during which Hayes reveals his decision to leave the band.
Despite her love for Hayes, Solène realizes she cannot let him sacrifice his career for her. In a moment of vulnerability, she fabricates a lie, claiming she never truly loved him but was enamored with the idea of him.
Heartbroken, Hayes returns to his band, and despite his persistent attempts to reach out, Solène remains steadfast in her decision to distance herself, ultimately causing Hayes to cease his efforts to reconnect.
“And then one day, they stopped,” Lee concludes the novel. “Long, long before I had stopped loving him.”
In the film adaptation, Hayes and Solène mutually decide to end their relationship primarily due to its impact on Solène’s teenage daughter, Isabelle, and the challenges posed by their age gap.
Following their breakup, Hayes pays Solène a visit, where she offers her apologies, and he expresses his love for her.
They agree to take a hiatus from their relationship and reconvene after a span of five years to reassess their situation.
Fast forward into the future, Hayes makes an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, where he surprises viewers by announcing his decision to take a break from touring.
During his performance, he dedicates a song inspired by his romance with Solène, showcasing his affection for her.
With Solène watching from afar, Hayes alludes to having time off to visit someone special in Los Angeles, hinting at the possibility of rekindling their connection.
Upon his arrival in California, Hayes steps into Solène’s art gallery, marking their first encounter in five years.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Solène greets him warmly, expressing her happiness at seeing him again.
However, the conclusion of their story and the prospects for their future relationship hang in uncertainty, leaving viewers to ponder what lies ahead for the pair.
Why Was The Idea of You Book Ending Changed In The Movie?
Director Michael Showalter revealed that he altered the ending of The Idea of You in the movie to provide audiences with a sense of hope for the two main characters.
“There’s a very long history in romantic movies of changing the ending so that the two main characters are together at the end.
There’s a bit of a pragmatic answer to this, which is that movie audiences just want to see at least that there’s some hope for these two characters at the end of the movie,” he explained.
Showalter continued,
“We don’t have to tell the audience exactly how it ended. We’re not telling the audience exactly where things wound up. But we are at least giving the audience an opportunity to try to fill it in for themselves.
As a fan of the genre, I love a romantic story that ends with the two main characters getting coffee because that tells me there’s hope.”
