The primary influence for the film's screenplay came from Andrew Kevin Walker's time spent in New York City while trying to make it as a screenwriter. ''I didn't like my time in New York, but it's true that if I hadn't lived there I probably wouldn't have written Seven.'' He envisioned actor William Hurt as Somerset and named the character after his favorite author, W. Somerset Maugham.

What's the best answer to this question: is the movie se7en based on a book?
no