Prime Video’s latest film, The Idea of You, is tailor-made for those who either once adored a boy band or still do.
Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine headline the movie, portraying the characters of a mother and the lead singer of a former boy band, respectively. Their romance blossoms after a serendipitous encounter at Coachella. Galitzine brings to life the character of Hayes Campbell, who has been speculated to draw inspiration from the likes of Harry Styles, complete with singing and dancing prowess on stage.
Joining Galitzine’s character are Jaiden Anthony, Raymond Cham, Vik White, and Dakota Adan, who round out the ensemble as the other members of August Moon. However, the question remains: Did the band depicted in The Idea of You predate the production of the romantic comedy?
Is The Idea of You‘s August Moon fictional or real?
So, is August Moon a real band? Well, it’s a bit of a gray area. While the band may have originated from Robinne Lee’s book, “The Idea of You,” and may or may not have been inspired by groups like One Direction, the cinematic adaptation has brought their music to life on platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
With a Spotify artist profile boasting over 265 thousand monthly listeners and lyric videos on YouTube garnering similar numbers of views, August Moon seems to have made a significant impact. What’s more, the five actors portraying the band members actually got into the studio to record and produce songs for the film’s soundtrack, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Adding to the confusion, August Moon maintains its own Instagram and TikTok pages (@augustmoon), where they interact with fans and promote the film’s soundtrack. However, they make it clear that their involvement is tied to the movie’s release, suggesting that they weren’t an established band prior to the film.
In a similar vein to the characters of the Gossip Girl reboot creating profiles on various social media platforms for engagement, August Moon’s online presence serves to drum up excitement for the film. Their songs, including hits like “Taste,” “Closer,” and “Guard Down,” embody the catchy pop beats and melodies reminiscent of groups like the Jonas Brothers or One Direction.
Nicholas Galitzine, who plays the lead singer of August Moon, has even contributed his own music to the soundtrack, including a collaboration with British artist Anne-Marie, sharing the title of the film. So, while August Moon may not have existed before “The Idea of You,” their presence in the movie and their music certainly make them feel real to fans.