Disney Picks Up DIVINE RIVALS Movie Adaptation Based on Rebecca Ross' Bestselling Fantasy Romance
Disney is getting into the fantasy romance game with Rebecca Ross’ bestselling novel Divine Rivals, and this could be the start of a pretty cool new franchise. Disney has acquired the film rights to the popular book, which has built a massive following thanks in part to the BookTok community.
The project previously landed at Paramount in June 2025 following a competitive bidding war, with Sofia Alvarez (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) attached to write the screenplay. But, things changed following Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount.
The film was already in development when the merger happened, but the rights eventually lapsed, giving Disney the opportunity to pick them up.
Disney is now looking for a new screenwriter, as the previous development work isn't carrying over. Original producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Pouya Shahbazian are sticking with the project, while Ross will executive produce alongside Stephen Shafer.
Divine Rivals follows two competing journalists who unexpectedly fall in love through a magical connection. Their romance unfolds during a devastating war between gods, forcing them to confront dangerous forces and venture into the depths of hell as they fight for a future together.
Published in April 2023, Divine Rivals kicked off Ross' Letters of Enchantment duology, which concluded with Ruthless Vows in December of that same year. Divine Rivals has sold more than 1 million copies and spent an impressive 104 weeks on the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller List.
The series has also become a favorite among BookTok readers, helping introduce Ross' fantasy world to an even bigger audience. With that kind of following already in place, Disney has a solid foundation to build on if the adaptation connects with moviegoers.
Disney SVP of Production Allison Erlikhman is overseeing the film and reports to Disney Live Action President Daria Cercek.
Ross has established herself as a major name in fantasy fiction, with more than 3 million books sold worldwide. Her work has spent a combined 128 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, earned 250 million TikTok views, been translated into 27 languages, and won a Goodreads Choice Award.
Her other books include the Elements of Cadence and The Queen's Rising duologies, along with standalone novels Wild Reverence, Dreams Lie Beneath, and Sisters of Sword & Song.
She's also got another fantasy novel on the way. A Bittersweet Spell is scheduled to arrive on April 6, 2027, and follows a magical antiquarian who is blackmailed into transcribing a cursed manuscript. To uncover its secrets, he must enlist the help of a brilliant mage he once betrayed, forcing the two to confront their complicated history.
There's obviously franchise potential here, especially with Ruthless Vows already providing a continuation of the story. Disney has the opportunity to bring a popular fantasy romance to the big screen with an established fanbase eager to see these characters come to life.
The big question now is whether Disney can capture what made readers fall in love with Ross' books in the first place.
Source: Deadline