Disney acquires film rights to Rebecca Ross fantasy novel Divine Rivals

Disney Live Action has acquired the feature film rights to the bestselling fantasy romance novel Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. ScreenRant, MovieWeb, and Deadline all reported that Disney is developing a new book adaptation based on the property. According to Comic Book Resources, Disney officially beat Paramount to secure the rights to the three-year-old novel series. [1][2][3][6][7]

The project was previously set up at Paramount, which had won the rights to the novel in June 2025 following a competitive bidding war. Deadline reported that screenwriter Sofia Alvarez, known for her work on To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, was attached to adapt the book. Deadline and ScreenRant noted that the move reflects a broader effort by Disney Live Action to invest in original franchise intellectual property. [1][6]

The acquisition adds to a growing slate of book-to-screen projects at Disney. ScreenRant reported that the studio is expanding its fantasy adaptations, which include the third season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on November 20. [1]