The Fault In Our Stars is easily one of the best and biggest movies of 2014, so it’s a surprise to learn that it almost didn’t happen.
According to Shailene Woodley, she wrote the author, begging him to allow the book to be made into a film.
The actress, who plays cancer-stricken teen Hazel Grace Lancaster in the movie, was a big fan of the novel and penned a letter to John Green to explain that a big screen version could change lives.
Speaking to CNN, Woodley said:
“I didn’t say I needed to be Hazel. I said I needed this movie to get made. Because I knew that it would change the lives of millions of people.”
Green added:
“The letter was extremely long, like 40 pages long, and I didn’t technically know who Shailene Woodley was. So I just responded like, ‘That’s such a lovely e-mail! Thank you so much! But I am not a casting director.’
“And then when I saw her audition, of course I was horrified that I had not written her back and said, like, ‘Please! Please! Be in our movie!'”
The film follows cancer patient Hazel (Woodley) as she falls for Augustus Waters, played by Woodley’s Divergent co-star Ansel Elgort, after they meet at a support group.
Woodley spoke about how playing a character with a terminal illness was so powerful it changed her complete outlook saying:
“It changed my whole life and put things in perspective. I realized I was good at being outwardly positive because that’s how I am by nature. But internally? I was so mean to myself.
“Realizing I needed to make a shift was a big moment for me. ‘F**k you, insecurity. F**k you, lack of confidence!’ When I finally realized I have to live life for myself and not for anyone else is when I started being more generous and kind and grateful. I was able to give back more.”
The Fault In Our Stars is currently No. 1 at the box office and can be seen worldwide.
