Lionsgate has announced an exciting film adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ beloved romance novel, ‘The Things We Leave Unfinished’. This adaptation promises to bring an epic love story to the big screen, captivating audiences worldwide.
Lionsgate to Adapt Rebecca Yarros’ Romance Novel ‘The Things We Leave Unfinished’ for Film
EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate has optioned popular author Rebecca Yarros’ 2021 romance novel The Things We Leave Unfinished for a feature film adaptation.
Script and Production Team
The studio has tapped A Private War and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare writer Arash Amel to pen the script. Todd Lieberman will produce through his production company Hidden Pictures.
Story Overview
The Things We Leave Unfinished follows 28-year-old Georgia Stanton who, after a public divorce, returns home and reluctantly collaborates with a bestselling author to finish her late great-grandmother’s WWII love story — only to uncover secrets that challenge the past and expose romances of the past and present.
Author’s Excitement
“I am so thrilled to work with this incredible team at Lionsgate and Hidden Pictures to adapt The Things We Leave Unfinished for the big screen! This is my favorite book that I’ve written and it’s a very special story to me, so I couldn’t be more excited to see it come to life in Arash Amel’s capable hands,” Yarros said in a statement Wednesday.
Creative Vision
Amel added: “From the moment I read The Things We Leave Unfinished, I was swept away by its epic romance, cinematic scope, and emotional depth. Rebecca Yarros has created something truly special, and from our very first meeting, it was clear we connected over a shared vision. Teaming up with Todd Lieberman, who is second to none in guiding heartfelt and meaningful stories for the big screen, has been a natural creative alignment, and in Lionsgate we’ve found the ideal home for a tale of love and heroism on this scale. I can’t wait to bring this sweeping love story to life for audiences around the world.”
Executive Producers
Yarros will also serve as an executive producer through her banner Full Measures Productions, as will Amel. Alex Young will also executive produce on behalf of Hidden Pictures.
Upcoming Adaptations
The Things We Leave Unfinished adds to a heavy-hitting slate of upcoming book-to-film adaptations from Lionsgate, including The Housemaid this Christmas and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping next year.
“Across genres, Rebecca’s incredible romances have the power to grab you by the heart and never let go – it’s always a joy to be along for the ride, as millions of readers have discovered,” Erin Westerman, President, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group said in a statement. “We’re so excited to partner with her, Arash, and Hidden Pictures to bring this extraordinary novel to the big screen, and for audiences both familiar with and new to its two unforgettable love stories to fall in love at the movies again.”
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Project Oversight
The project will be overseen by Scott O’Brien and Maria Ascanio at Lionsgate. Carly Kleinbart Elter will also co-produce for Hidden Pictures. The deal was brokered by Dan Freedman at Lionsgate with Matthew N. Sugarman from Weintraub Tobin negotiating for Yarros, and David Fox and Jennifer Grega at Myman Greenspan negotiating for Amel.
Novel’s Popularity
The Things We Leave Unfinished was published in 2021 and has become quite the phenomenon on TikTok. It marks the third of Yarros’ novels to get the adaptation treatment. Her popular first novel in The Empyrean series, Fourth Wing, is currently being adapted for television from Amazon MGM Studios with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society producing, and her novel In the Likely Event is set for a film at Netflix with Lindsey Ferrentino adapting and Dylan Clark Productions producing.
Amel’s Background
Amel is best known for having written the 2018 Golden Globe-nominated film A Private War, directed by Matthew Heineman and starring Rosamund Pike as celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin. His other credits include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Disney’s Rise. In August, Amazon will release the TV series Butterfly, starring Daniel Dae Kim, based on Amel’s graphic novel. In addition to The Things We Leave Unfinished, he is currently producing Fred & Ginger starring Jamie Bell based on his original screenplay with Black Bear and 30West.
Lieberman’s Projects
Lieberman is currently in post-production on The Housemaid for Lionsgate, as well as Voltron for Amazon MGM Studios, War Machine at Netflix and the Robin Hood series for MGM+.
Representation
Yarros is represented by Untitled Entertainment, The Fury Agency, and Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin. Amel is represented by Untitled Entertainment, Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light LLP, and 42West.
