Dear John, an adaptation of the celebrated Nicholas Sparks novel, has had its soldier for quite a while in the form of the equally celebrated (and by the same crowd) Channing Tatum. What John has been lacking, however, is a director. Now Cider House Rules director Lasse Hallstrom will handle those duties, according to Variety.

The novel, written by Sparks (who also wrote the original material for The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, and A Walk to Remember, follows a soldier on leave who falls for a college girl. When he has to return to duty and is shipped overseas, the two communicate through letters.

Production starts in September under Hallstrom’s direction, with Relativity Media financing the film and Screen Gems handling distribution. Previously the movie was in development at New Line until their recent downsizing.