Debut Novelist Rebecca Serle's Romeo and Juliet Novel Headed for the Silver Screen

Posted on August 19, 2011

Debut novelist Rebecca Serle may see her first book made into a movie before it lands in bookstores. According to New York Magazine's Vulture blog, When You Were Mine will be released in May, 2012. But the film rights have already been snapped up and supposedly Keira Knightley is being courted for the lead by Fox 2000.

The novel is a twist on Romeo and Juliet, told from the perspective of Rosaline who Romeo loved before he met Juliet. Rosaline falls in love with Romeo's cousin, Benvolio. Shawn Levy will produce, Scott Neustader and Michael H. Weber (500 Days of Summer) will write the screenplay and Michael Sucsy (Grey Gardens) will direct.

Rebecca told Vulture she has no idea how this will all work out, saying "I think writers are prone to overanalyzing, but it could be a multitude of things: People could hate the movie, but love the book. Or they could hate the book, but love the movie. Or they could love the book and love the movie. Or they could hate both. To be perfectly frank, I don't know how any of it is going to go."

We think Keira Knightley is all wrong for this (and we haven't even read the book). Luckily, Vulture says Lily Collins is also being considered for the role.