Paramount Pictures has snapped-up the movie rights to a novel linked with One Direction's Harry Styles.

According to Deadline.com, the studios have bought up the film deal rights to After, a novel written by first-time author Anna Todd.

The book, which became the breakout hit of the online writing community Wattpad, gained over 1 billion views online, and the synopsis refers to the lead male as a 'Styles-like character', based on 1D's Harry.

Author Anna, who posted the book chapter-by-chapter online under the username 'imaginator1d', shared the news with fans on Instagram.

In case you haven't heard... Paramount acquired the rights to After!!! I am so happy and so excited to finally tell you! I just want to thank you guys so so much for always supporting me and loving Hessa and being such a huge part of this crazy journey with me! We all did this together, if you clicked on a chapter, if you voted, if you made edits and Manips and fan accounts and videos, this is for you! The name Hardin will be used (obviously, this is a fictional story, not the actual Harry so the book and movie with be Hardin Scott) and I can't wait to see it on the screens! I never expected when I joined this fandom almost 3 years ago that this would come of it. Some of you have been here since Perfect and it just is so crazy that this all has happened. I love the boys, and you guys and I'm so grateful for everything. Never give up on your dreams because mine came true and so can yours!! #afterfanfiction #aftermovie

She thanked fans for their support in the caption, writing: "In case you haven't heard... Paramount acquired the rights to After!!! I am so happy and so excited to finally tell you!

"We all did this together, if you clicked on a chapter, if you voted, if you made edits and Manips and fan accounts and videos, this is for you!

"I never expected when I joined this fandom almost 3 years ago that this would come of it [...] it just is so crazy that this all has happened," she added.

The Mirrorreports thatDirectioners have already hit out at the author on social media with the hashtag #SuspendAnnaTodd - criticising her for basing the abusive character on the singer.

But in her Instagram post, Todd stressed that the character would be renamed for the big-screen adaptation.

"The name Hardin will be used (obviously, this is a fictional story, not the actual Harry so the book and movie will be Hardin Scott) and I can't wait to see it on the screens!

"I love the boys [One Direction], and you guys and I'm so grateful for everything. Never give up on your dreams because mine came true and so can yours!!"