Following the box office success ofIt Ends With Usearlier this summer, the work of authorColleen Hooverhas become a hot ticket item for adaptation, and Universal Pictures has secured the rights and release dates to one of her titles,Reminders of Him.It Ends with Usbecame the surprise box office hit of 2024, grossing $148 million at the domestic box office and $344 million worldwide. A New York Times Best Selling author,Hoover’s novels have started to gain Hollywood’s attention as they hope to find the next big mid-budget adult-skewing drama hit.
According toVariety, Universal Pictures won a bidding war for the rights to Hoover’s 2022 novelReminders of Him. Despite not having a cast or a director, Universal Pictures has already setReminders of Himfor July 09, 2025, a release date in time for Valentine’s Day and the three-day President’s Day weekend. Hoover is set to co-write the screenplay with Lauren Levine. Regarding the deal, Hoover released a statement saying:
“I am thrilled to be working with Universal to bring Kenna Rowan’s world to life. I hear from many readers who tell me they found something of themselves in her story of living with and through tragedy and doing the often messy and imperfect work of healing and turning the page to a fresh chapter in life. I am excited as ‘Reminders of Him‘ holds a special place in my heart too. I feel confident Universal is the right partner to do this story justice.”
Published in 2022,Reminders of Himfollows lead characterKenna Rowan, a woman who looks to reconnect with her young daughter following a five-year prison sentence. When Kenna returns to her hometown, she is not given the warmest welcome and is shunned by everyone in her life, not allowing her to grow from her past mistakes. While everyone seems set on keeping Kenna and her daughter apart, the only one who seems to show Kenna any kindness is Ledgar Ward, the owner of a local bar, who becomes her romantic interest.Reminders of Himhas sold over6.5 million copies globally, more than enough to justify the feature film adaptation.
Colleen Hoover’s Body of Work is the Next Big IP
WhileReminders of Himis the first Colleen Hoover adaptation to get a release date following the box office hit ofIt Ends with Us, it is far from the only one in development.Hoover’s 2019 novelRegretting Youis currently in the worksfromThe Fault in Our Starsdirector Josh Boone, with Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Afterlife)and Allison Williams (Girls) set to star. WhileIt Ends with Ushas a book sequel,the likelihood of the film getting a follow-uphas beenthrown into doubt following the feud between star Blake Lively and co-star/director Justin Baldoni. Fortunately, Hoover has an extensive body of work for Hollywood to mine.
Universal Pictures settingReminders of HimforValentine’s Day/President’s Day weekendis likely an attempt by the studio to replicate the success ofFifty Shades of Grey, which they released back in 2015, to an impressive $93 million over the four-day holiday. Meanwhile, it may have some stout competition, asMarvel Studios has an untitled movie set for the same day. Many fans have theorized thatBlade, currently slated for November 2025, might be delayed to the July 21, 2025, release date. An MCU film and a Colleen Hoover film going head-to-head at the box office would make for an interesting showdown and could serve as good counter-programming for each one. Films based on Colleen Hoover’s books could be the new big box office hitmaker.
Reminders of Himopens in theaters on August 09, 2025.
It Ends With Us
