Disney Live Action is developing a movie based on Rebecca Ross’s “Divine Rivals,” the first novel in her Letters of Enchantment series. The rights acquisition was announced on October 27, after an earlier deal with Paramount fell through following a year-long delay. The project is still in its early stages.
Published in April 2023, “Divine Rivals” follows 18-year-old Iris Winnow, whose brother has gone missing while fighting in a war between gods. As Iris tries to support her grieving mother and pursue a promotion at work, letters she writes to her brother end up with Roman Kitt, her workplace rival. Their unexpected correspondence leads to a magical connection.
The story places its romance amid a conflict involving Enva, the Skyward goddess, and Dacre, the Underling god. Its fantasy elements include celestial warfare and magical typewriters, while its setting draws on early 20th-century newspapers and journalism. The sequel, “Ruthless Vows,” was published in December 2023.
The novel blends supernatural conflict with wartime storytelling and personal themes including grief, anger and betrayal. Its contrast between an intimate romance and the violence of a divine war, alongside its distinctive period setting, gives the planned film a mix of historical and fantastical elements.
The adaptation also has opportunities to bring the books’ magical correspondence to the screen, including letters that disappear and typewriters that behave mysteriously. No further production details are provided in the announcement.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.