Credit: Bleecker Street
Under Her Eye
What Happens Later sees Meg Ryan write, direct and star in her very own romcom
2 years ago
2 min read
The You’ve Got Mail actor is back on the romcom wagon with her new film What Happens Later, and we couldn’t be happier about it
From When Harry Met Sally to Sleepless In Seattle, Meg Ryan has been dubbed the queen of the romcom for a reason. So, yes, it’s safe to say we’re excited that she’s front and centre in a wintry new film that’s perfect for the coldest season of all.
Starring opposite David Duchovny of The X-Files fame, Ryan – who wrote and directed What Happens Later –is back on our screens after an eight-year hiatus. And, yes, she’s back on our screens with a romantic comedy no less!
However, don’t be fooled into thinking that this film is all sunshine and rainbows. Because, while What Happens Later is all about love and romance, it sneakily subverts the tropes of the genre to bring us something that is every bit as much about the enduring pain of heartbreak, too.
Watch the trailer for What Happens Later below:
Intrigued? Here’s what you need to know.
What is the plot of What Happens Later?
As you’ve likely gathered from the trailer, the film follows two exes with some serious unfinished business.
And so, when Willa and Bill unexpectedly run into one another after their flights get delayed due to a snow storm, they spend the night at the airport reliving their past and dwelling on (wait for it) missed connections.
“It’s a love story with romcom elements,” Ryan says in an interview about the film with The LA Times. “And love stories are really only as good as their obstacles. In this case, the obstacles are who they are.”
Don’t go in, then, expecting your typical happy ending. You’ve been warned.
Who stars in What Happens Later?
It’s a teeny weeny cast for this one: Ryan stars as Willa, Duchovny is Bill and Hal Liggett is (ahem) the airport voice.
What are people saying about What Happens Later?
Ryan says she came up with the idea for this movie during lockdown, when she felt the “ache for connection”.
Credit: Bleecker Street
Adding that banter is a romance language and airports are incredibly romantic, Ryan teases: “In airports, time seems to stop. It doesn’t feel the same. And Tom Petty, I was thinking about his music so much when I was writing it. There’s a lyric – I woke up in between a memory and a dream – and that’s these two. They wake up in between a memory and a dream and that’s the plot.
“They don’t have the same memory of the past. They have to put it together.”
When can we watch What Happens Later?
What Happens Later is due to make its debut in UK cinemas on 15 December.
Will you be watching?
Images: Bleecker Street
Sign up to Stylist’s weekly curation of the best TV, films, documentaries and more, and you’ll never wonder ‘What should I watch?’ again.
By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy
Thank you!
You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.