What originated as a popular Star Wars fan fiction exploring the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren has evolved into a published novel and is now slated for a film adaptation on Prime Video. "The Love Hypothesis," by author Ali Hazelwood, will premiere on September 23.
Hazelwood, who originally published the work under the pen name Ever-so-Reylo on the fan archive site Archive of Our Own, developed the story from a modern take on the Reylo dynamic. The novel follows Olive Smith, a PhD candidate who becomes involved in a fake-dating scheme after an impulsive kiss with Professor Adam Carlsen. This narrative premise was inspired by the characters and relationships found in Star Wars.
The transition from fan fiction to an original novel was reportedly encouraged by Hazelwood's literary agent. "She was like, 'I saw that you wrote something about maybe pulling some of your fics and reworking them. And I wanted to tell you that I am a literary agent and I would love to see some of your manuscripts, if you're interested in it,'" Hazelwood shared in an interview with Collider.
While the novel is set in a different universe, "The Love Hypothesis" retains character dynamics reminiscent of its Star Wars origins. Early versions of the story featured characters inspired by Finn, Poe, and even a Professor Solo. To create an original work, significant changes were necessary to move away from the established Star Wars universe. Despite these alterations, the novel's origins are acknowledged, with even actor Tom Bateman, who plays Professor Carlsen in the adaptation, being aware of the story's Star Wars beginnings.
This trend of fan fiction evolving into published works and subsequent adaptations is becoming increasingly common within literary communities. "The Love Hypothesis" joins other notable examples, such as "Heated Rivalry" by Rachel Reid, which began as a Steve and Bucky fanfic, and E.L. James's "Fifty Shades of Grey," which originated as a Twilight fan fiction. For Star Wars fans seeking a continuation of narrative threads inspired by Rey and Kylo Ren, the upcoming adaptation offers a new story that draws from those roots.