Meg Ryan Set To Direct And Star In Romantic Comedy ‘What Happens Later’

Meg Ryan is going back to her romantic comedy beginnings. The 60-year-old actress is set to direct and star alongside David Duchovny in a rom-com titled What Happens Later.

The film is reportedly based on the play ‘Shooting Star’ by playwright Steven Dietz, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ryan and novelist Kirk Lynn.

The movie follows ex-lovers Willa (Ryan) and Bill (Duchovny) who are reunited for the first time since their split decades prior when they both find themselves snowed in, in-transit, at an airport overnight. Willa is still the wilful, independent spirit she once was, free of any ties, while the recently separated Bill is reassessing his life and his relationships with his estranged wife and daughter. All each of them wants is to get home but over the course of the night they find themselves at first reluctantly drawn together yet compelled to revisit their past, along with what could have been and what might well be again.

So it sounds like it’ll be in mostly one location, which makes sense considering this was originally a play.

This will be the second directorial credit for Ryan. She previously directed the 2015 film ‘Ithaca’ which did not perform well with critics. But hey, it was her first time directing.

Bleecker Street has already purchased U.S. rights and plans on releasing this project inside theaters. Production is set to begin in Arkansas later this year.

A release date will likely come in 2023.