Miami Film Festival 2024 Red Carpet Interview - director Michael Showalter on filming The Idea of You
Playing at the 41st Miami Film Festival was The Idea Of You, directed by Michael Showalter and starring Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Perry Mattfeld, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Raymond Cham Jr., Jaiden Anthony, Viktor White, and Dakota Adan.
Based upon the bestselling novel written by Robinne Lee, and produced by Gabrielle Union; The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old boy-band sensation Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine).
Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.
Blackfilmandtv.com spoke with Showalter on the red carpet at the 41st Miami Film Festival and got his take on filming the movie from book to screen.
It’s not that often we get a film based on a book written by a black person. So what went into adapting this book and making it your style so that way it can please audiences to what we want to see?
Michael Showalter: That's a big question. I mean, I just try to be true to my own vision as a filmmaker with everything that I do. And so I came into this project with an idea of the kind of movie, the adaptation I wanted to do. And I just tried to stay true to that. Robin wrote an amazing book, created these incredible characters, created this incredible love story, and hopefully the movie honors what she did.
Your films are so different from each other. What went into saying yes to taking on this project?
Michael Showalter: I love romantic stories. I love romantic comedy. I love romantic drama. I was excited to work with Anne. And I thought that this story was really interesting and it was a romantic equation I had not seen before. But that was something that was really interesting to me in the culture of this sort of older woman, younger man pairing the pop star and the normal person. And it just felt like something that I hadn't seen before and that I thought would be interesting to explore.
How was working with Anne and Nicholas?
Michael Showalter: Great. They're the best. We had a great time making the movie. I think it shows on screen. Their chemistry is great. For me, the whole mission of the movie is for you to buy it, is for you to really believe that these two people really are, have really met, this really could happen, and that you go on the journey with them.
Was there any challenges from mirroring both the book and your version?
Michael Showalter: I'll just say, making the movie is all filled with challenges. For me, I wanted to make the audience believe that this is really happening. So that was the mission of this movie from the beginning to the end, and hopefully we pulled it off.