This Coming Out Film Is the Gay Rom Com We've Been Searching For

With the words "everyone deserves a great love story," young-adult author Becky Albertalli came out on Twitter yesterday with the poster for the film adaptation of her 2016 novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. 

Albertalli's story follows Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a 17-year-old closeted high school student whose future becomes uncertain after an email he sends his crush ends up in the wrong hands. The race against time begins as Simon decides between stepping out of his comfort zone on his own time or being outed by forces outside of his control. The novel was longlisted for the National Book Award and received the William C. Morris Award for Best Young Adult Debut of the Year in 2016.

According to Albertalli, the movie is slated to hit theaters in the U.S. on March 16, 2018, and Greg Berlanti (Arrow, Riverdale) will direct. This Is Us writers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger penned the screenplay, and according to Deadlineexpected to pitch it to a wide range of production companies before it was preemptively acquired by Fox 2000's Temple Hill (Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, Twilight). 

The film will also feature Keiynan Lonsdale (Bram Greenfeld)—who came out as bisexual in May—Alexandra Shipp (Abby Suso), Logan Miller (Martin Addison), Katherine Langford (Leah Burke), Jorge Lendeborg Jr.  (Nick Eisner), Jennifer Garner (Emily Spier/Simon’s mom), Josh Duhamel (Jack Spier/Simon’s dad), Talitha Bateman (Nora Spier), Natasha Rothwell (Ms. Albright), Tony Hale (Mr. Worth), Miles Heizer (Cal Price), Mackenzie Lintz (Taylor Metternich), Drew Starkey (Garrett Laughlin), and Bryson Pitts (10-year-old Simon).

We're looking forward to seeing more from Berlanti, Robinson and the rest of the gang! Catch Simon's story here before the movie hits theaters, and check out Albertalli's FAQ here for more info.