By james art 
Despite their heavy resumes, Anne Hathaway and actor-turned-director Michael Showalter had never met before collaborating on the May-to-December love story The Idea of You , out May 2 on Amazon Prime Video. Unless you count that one time at Gucci Osteria in Beverly Hills, which in 2022 was the site of Jessica Chastain’s Oscar-nominated dinner for the Showalter-directed The Eyes of Tammy Fey.
“I wanted to talk to Anne, but I was too embarrassed,” Showalter recalled of the soiree. “The path of least resistance is just not talking to anybody.” Hathaway adds with a laugh, “I couldn’t figure out how to break through my wall of shyness.”
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Months later, Hathaway overcame her timidity when she hired Showalter to write and direct The Idea of You, in which the Devil Wears Prada and The Princess Diaries star plays a 40-year-old single mother who he falls for the Harry Styles-esque 29-year-old pop star played by Nicholas Galitzin.
Given the film’s strong theme of female empowerment, were there any conversations about whether it should be directed by a woman?
Anne Hathaway: We had this conversation. [But] there were so many strengths that made Michael the absolute perfect choice for this.
Michael Showalter: If I can identify with my characters, I know I can make a good film.
Were you on the same page from the beginning about how clear to make the sex scenes between Hathaway’s Solène and Galitzine’s Hayes?
Showalter: I never wanted it to go into Red Shoe Diaries territory.
Hathaway: I was inspired by [Robinne Lee’s novel on which the film is based] regarding … what is the polite way to say …
Showalter: sex?
Hathaway: Intimate actions! In the book, Robin describes intimate relationships with incredible energy. In their first physical sexual relationship, Hayes brings Solène to orgasm while [she is fully] dressed up. It’s become our North Star in terms of expressing cinematic sex in a way that addresses its pleasure while emphasizing that a large part of the pleasure is pleasuring someone else.
The Idea of You is Amazon’s latest movie to skip theaters and go straight to streaming. Have any of you tried to talk them out of this strategy?
Hathaway: I have never released a film of this size [exclusively] on streaming … so I’m not in a position to answer that question. Part of me is excited that such a wide audience will have immediate access to it. And part of me [is aware that] there aren’t many reasons for mothers to hold hands and go to the movies; this movie would be perfect for that.
Showalter: I don’t understand how watching movies works anymore. And as a director, I am truly grateful that I was given the opportunity to simply make a film.
Hathaway: Some of my favorite romantic comedies came out in the 90s and I watched them on home video. I’ve never seen the original theatrical releases of Pretty Woman, Notting Hill, or My Best Friend’s Wedding — of course I’m a Julia Roberts fan! — but I loved them. Part of me likes the idea of having a huge worldwide theatrical hit. But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the opportunity to have a different look [moviegoing experience].
The film, shot in Southern California, has a somewhat dismissive attitude towards Glendale. What do you have against the Valley?
Hathaway: I love Glendale. I did not write these lines. The valley is great!
Showalter: [Laughs] I don’t think there is anyone from Glendale who would see this movie and not laugh heartily at things in Glendale.
Michael Ausiello is the founder of TVLine, owned by Variety’s parent company PMC. He wrote the memoir on which Showalter’s 2022 film Spoiler Alert is based.
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