'The Hate U Give' Screenwriter Dies As Movie Debuts In Theaters

The screenwriter of the newly released The Hate U Give died Thursday, the same week that her latest project hit theaters.

Audrey Wells passed away of cancer, according to her agency UTA. She was 58.

Wells adapted Angie Thomas’ best selling YA novel The Hate U Give, a story that follows 16-year-old Starr Carter after she witnesses the police shooting of a childhood friend. The film adaption stars Amandla Stenberg and was directed by George Tillman Jr.

Wells other works, some of which she also directed, include 1996’s The Truth About Cats and Dogs, 1999’s Guinevere, 2000’s The Kid, 2003’s Under the Tuscan Sun and, 2004’s Shall We Dance.

Thomas took to Twitter to remember Wells.

“It was a joy to work with Audrey, and I’m forever grateful for what she gave us with The Hate U Give adaptation,” she wrote. “ She will truly be missed.”

Wells is survived by her daughter, Tatiana, and her husband, Brian Larky. Our thoughts are with the family.