The After movies starring Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin were a monumental moment for romance fans. Based on the Wattpad fanfiction turned best-selling book series written by Anna Todd, the plot follows a young girl named Tess (Langford) as she falls in love with resident college bad boy Hardin (Tiffin). Todd’s series sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and the movies are largely considered one of the most successful book-to-screen Wattpad adaptations to date! First for Women recently caught up with Todd—who also served as a producer on the four films—to discuss what it was like behind the scenes on the After film sets, as well as when you can expect to see Tess and Hardin next. (Yes, she hints at the possibility of another ‘Tess Hardin moment’ coming down the pike!) Keep reading for more.
Anna Todd opens up about her journey as an author
Before becoming a bestselling author, Todd began writing on Wattpad, the popular fan fiction site where authors share work directly with readers. The idea for After began on this platform, and after several installments—and thousands of readers begging for more—Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, traditionally published the books in 2012.
“It’s been completely life-changing as you can imagine,” Todd told First for Women. “I never expected anything to come from my hobby of writing on Wattpad, so to be published was truly surprising in itself!”
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Since then, she has gone on to pen seven other novels, all of which became worldwide bestsellers.
Behind-the-scenes secrets from the ‘After’ movies
Between the viral Wattpad buzz and the mainstream publishing success, the After fandom continued to skyrocket—the books were even translated into more than 35 languages. But the book-to-screen adaptation didn’t happen quite as quickly. In 2019, After was finally released, followed by four more installments every year after. The film series—despite some critical criticisms—was a financial triumph. In fact, the first film grossed $69 million worldwide, exceeding its $14 million budget by a long shot.
“I love hearing they’re people’s comfort films,” Todd said, before explaining how involved she was in the production process. “I was extremely involved in the casting of the first two, and I love the casting process. I was also heavily involved in the scripts for one and two, rewriting on set daily. My favorite thing about watching it come to life was anticipating the reader’s reactions to the scenes.”
Those scenes wouldn’t be complete without the two leads, Langford and Tiffin, whose crackling onscreen chemistry was the secret to the film franchise’s success. “They are both truly exceptional for Tessa and Hardin,” Todd exclaimed. “I can’t imagine anyone else playing them, and they brought them to life perfectly. Chemistry is so difficult to achieve when filmmaking, and I’m so, so, so thrilled that theirs was so magical.”
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The onset chemistry and friendships extended to everyone on set. And Todd said she keeps “in touch with nearly everyone from the franchise, cast-wise.”
Todd also gushed about her adoration for Langford and their steady friendship. “We all went through something so life-changing together and have a special bond from that,” she continued. “Josephine has become one of my dearest friends and I genuinely feel that meeting her was one of the best things to come from this franchise. She’s an incredibly smart, emotionally intelligent woman, and I’m lucky to know her on a different level.”
“I’d say some of my favorite memories are from the time with the cast. We spent a lot of time eating chicken wings, building Legos, doing puzzles and laughing. The dynamic between the cast was great, we have so many inside jokes still, years later.”
Anna Todd shares what’s next for her—and Tessa and Hardin!
Even though the After films are over, Todd did hint that she knows “exactly” where Tessa and Hardin are and “what they’re up to.” Does this mean she has something in the works starring the fan-favorite couple? Well, we asked Todd this exact question and her answer will leave fans hopeful. She revealed she couldn’t share just yet “for reasons you’ll know soon!”
Until then, Todd is spending her time promoting her newest novel, The Last Sunrise—an unforgettable romance about a sheltered young woman whose life transforms during a sweeping summer in Majorca with a mysterious local—which released earlier this month.
“This book means so much to me, honestly,” the author reflected on The Last Sunrise. “It’s one of my favorite, and most personal, books I’ve ever written. I love the characters and their struggles, their love story, and their depth. I hope readers take away the feeling of hope after they finish this story.”
You can pick up your copy of The Last Sunrise now wherever books are sold.