Current:Home > MarketsMeg Ryan Returns to Rom-Coms After 14 Years: Watch the First Look at What Happens Later -SecureNest Finance
Meg Ryan Returns to Rom-Coms After 14 Years: Watch the First Look at What Happens Later
View
Date:2025-04-15 21:56:43
We'll still have what she's having.
Meg Ryan is making her long-awaited rom-com comeback with the upcoming film What Happens Later alongside David Duchovny, and fans finally got a first look at the 61-year-old reclaiming her throne when the trailer hit their inboxes Aug. 30.
In true rom-com fashion, the movie starts with the perfect meet-cute between exes Willa (Meg) and William (David), who find themselves snowed in at a regional airport—their first encounter since their breakup 20 plus years ago.
And when only their flights are indefinitely delayed Willa and William once again find themselves facing the same issues as when they dated decades prior. As the night goes on, the two rediscover that Willa is still independent with no ties holding her down, stating that kids just "wasn't in the cards" for her, while William is navigating how to maintain relationships with his ex-wife and daughter.
Of course, the "what ifs" start trickling in, sparking the age-old thought of what could have been between the former flames.
The trailer also includes nods to the loyal romance fans, like when William goes to plug in his phone and unplugs a movie poster that reads: "Rom Com coming this summer. Fall in love with love again."
And although it's been quite a bit since we've been sleepless in Seattle, What Happens Later officially marks 14 years since Meg's last rom-com in 2009, Serious Moonlight, also starring Kristen Bell and Timothy Hutton.
But despite her time away the You've Got Mail star—who also co-wrote and directed the upcoming movie—still knows how to tug at our heartstrings.
"Sometimes there's a question of: Will they be together? Will they not be together?" Meg teased to Entertainment Weekly Aug. 29. "For that reason, What Happens Later sort of evolves the rom-com genre just a little bit. It's also about old people, and it's still romantic and sexy."
And perhaps the film's leading man was brought to Meg by the fate of the universe, as David's portrayal of her love interest was exactly what the When Harry Met Sally actress was looking for.
"My character, Willa, is a magical thinker and David's character, Bill, is a catastrophic thinker," Meg continued to the outlet. "These rom-coms really work when the two characters are somehow opposites and yet have a rhythm of intellect and humor and dialogue and banter that sort of indicates their compatibility."
She added, "So, it's just been really fun to see David embrace this guy who I don't think is anything really like David. Whereas the Willa thing I can really relate to. To see him dive into every single scene in the fullest way, he's funny, and he's smart, and he's dear, and irresistible."
So, the countdown is on until What Happens Later hits theaters Oct. 13. And although the days of dial-up connections and chat rooms are long gone, keep scrolling to take a trip down romance lane with Meg's best rom-com roles...
College graduates Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) and Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) debate whether men and women can strictly be platonic friends during a contentious car trip and the pair test their theories when they are reunited ten years later in this 1989 rom com.
In this 1990 film, Joe (Tom Hanks) is a hypochondriac who after learning he's dying decides to quit his job and accepts an offer to throw himself into a volcano on a tropical island. He didn't expect that along the way he would learn to live and fall in love with a woman named Patricia (Ryan).
Ryan takes on the role of Rita Boyle, a free-spirited graphic designer, who marries Peter Hoskins (Alec Baldwin), a conservative employee of a Chicago publishing house. At the wedding, she is approached by an elderly man named Julius (Sydney Walker) who asks for a kiss from her. When he does, their spirits switch until her new husband can see beyond the physical and Julius agrees to return his original body.
Ryan and Hanks reunite for this 1993 iconic rom com. Sleepless in Seattle tells the story of a man, Sam Baldwin (Hanks), who moved to Seattle with his son, Jonah, following the death of his wife. Jonah sets out to find a new partner for his father by calling into a radio program and Sam joins in the conversation. Annie Reed (Ryan) hears the show and falls for him. She then asks him to meet her at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day.
The Connecticut native portrays Catherine Boyd who is the niece of physicist Albert Einstein. Despite being engaged to another man, a mechanic falls for her and gets the help of her uncle and his mischievous colleagues to make Boyd reciprocate his feelings.
The actress plays Kathleen Kelly, the owner of an independent bookstore The Shop Around the Corner in New York City, who starts to email with a mystery man only to find out that she has been corresponding with Joe Fox (Hanks), the man behind her competition, Fox Books.
When Kate (Ryan) discovers that her fiancé, Charlie (Timothy Hutton), has fallen for a Parisian woman, she decides to go to France to confront him. On the way, she is seated next to Luc (Kevin Kline), a charming crook who uses her to smuggle a stolen necklace. As the pair get to know each other, they begin to have feelings for each other and Kate must decide where her heart lies.
Things get complicated when astronomer Sam (Matthew Broderick) moves to New York City to stalk his ex (Kelly Preston) and her new boyfriend, Anton (Tchéky Karyo). He later meets, Maggie (Ryan) who is Anton's former girlfriend. The pair bond over their need to separate their exs and eventually fall for each other.
Ryan is Kate McKay, a modern day business executive, who falls in love with Leopold (Hugh Jackman), the third Duke of Albany from the late 1800s, when a rip in the fabric of time thrusts him into present day New York. An old-fashioned romance ensues between the duo.
Carter Webb (Adam Brody) is a successful writer who returns to his hometown of Detroit to help his grandmother (Olympia Dukakis) who is in failing health and begin work on his long-planned novel. While staying with his grandmother, he gets to know her neighbors—mom Sarah Hardwicke (Ryan) and her two daughters, Lucy (Kristen Stewart) and Paige (Makenzie Vega).
A struggling Hollywood producer cons a major studio into financing an action film following the adventures of 19th century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. He tries to get a studio executive (Ryan) to fall for him in the midst of making the film.
Ryan takes on the role of Louise, a high-powered Manhattan lawyer, who is shocked to discover her husband's (Hutton) affair with a much younger woman. Rather than letting him go, she decides to hold him captive until he commits to trying to make their marriage work.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (4)
Related
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Southern Taurids meteor shower set to peak this weekend: How to see the fireball stream
- Damar Hamlin launches Cincinnati scholarship program to honor the 10 who saved his life
- Pentagon pauses support for congressional travel to Israel
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- A Norway spruce from West Virginia is headed to the US Capitol to be this year’s Christmas tree
- Khloe Kardashian's Daughter True Thompson Reveals How She Lost Her Front Tooth in Adorable Video
- Tens of thousands of ancient coins have been found off Sardinia. They may be spoils of a shipwreck
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Just Say Yes to Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce's Love Story
Ranking
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- This winning coach is worth the wait for USWNT, even if it puts Paris Olympics at risk
- Damar Hamlin launches Cincinnati scholarship program to honor the 10 who saved his life
- Colorado football players get back some items stolen from Rose Bowl locker room
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- VPR's Ariana Madix Reveals the Name Tom Sandoval Called Her After Awkward BravoCon Reunion
- Nepal earthquake kills more than 150 people after houses collapse
- Comedian Taylor Tomlinson to host new CBS late-night show After Midnight. Here's what to know about her.
Recommendation
North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
Boy killed in Cincinnati shooting that wounded 5 others, some juveniles, police say
Estonia will allow Taiwan to establish a nondiplomatic representative office in a policy revision
Best of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction from Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott and Willie
Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
Here's what to do if you get behind on your mortgage payment
A muted box office weekend without ‘Dune: Part Two’
Tom Sandoval Reveals the Real Reason He Doesn't Have His Infamous Lightning Bolt Necklace