Producers Gibgot and Roklin Reveal Their Playbook for Turning Romance Novels Into Films

Jennifer Gibgot and Lena Roklin, who teamed up on the adaptation of Anna Todd's novel 'The Last Sunrise,' discussed their approach to working with authors and casting for romantic leads. Gibgot has a long history in the genre, including the After films and Nicholas Sparks adaptations, while Roklin brings experience from producing projects like 'Upgraded' and 'Clashing Through the Snow.' Their partnership began when Gibgot sought a director for 'The Last Sunrise' and found Carlson Young through Roklin's management roster.

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Gibgot's producing résumé spans three decades, encompassing teen romances like She's All That and 17 Again, Nicholas Sparks adaptations including The Last Song, the After film series, and the Step Up dance franchise. Roklin operates a management company representing young performers while producing titles such as Upgraded, One Fast Move, The Other Zoey, and the recent Amazon MGM holiday release Clashing Through the Snow, starring Chris Briney and Michelle Randolph. Their partnership formed when Gibgot sought a director for Anna Todd's The Last Sunrise and discovered Carlson Young through Roklin's client roster. The film, released last week, was sold to Amazon with Andrew Parnay and Ethea Entertainment co-producing. The pair have announced a series adaptation of