Lonely Planet is a new Netflix film from writer and producer Susannah Grant, who will write and direct the project, confirmed to star Liam Hemsworth and Laura Dern. Grant is known for producing, writing, and directing various key feminist works, including tense dramas that tackle tough subjects, tough and witty characters, or both. Grant is highly accomplished in the industry and deserving of appreciation and commendation for her work on projects like the classic legal drama Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts as a legal assistant. She unearthed the criminal actions of oil giant PG & E. Julia Roberts won her Oscar for Best Actress after her performance in the film.
Grant also has credits as showrunner and creator for the projects Unbelievable from 2019, the heart-wrenching assault series produced by Netflix starring Kaitlyn Dever and Toni Collette, and The 5th Wave, a multilayered disaster film starring Chloe Grace Moretz. She also has early writing and story credits on the television drama Party of Five, which launched the career of the eventual Lost star and fan-favorite Matthew Fox.
The saddest part about these exciting casting announcements is that they come with no particulars so far about the plot of Lonely Planet, leaving us to do much speculating and wondering. Fortunately, there are some very exciting names attached. Netflix has boasted some pretty awesome rom-coms in recent years. Certainly, many opportunities for new and existing talent to get together, do some great work, and have plenty of creative fun! Here is everything we know about Grant’s latest project Lonely Planet.
What Will Lonely Planet Be About?
StudioCanal
It has been confirmed that the film will take place in Morocco and that it is a romance. Will this be a steaming international romance or a comedy that mocks steamy international romances? Or both? Or something totally different? With Susannah Grant at the helm, just about anything is possible! With her penning and directing the piece, we can expect a lot of drama and passion, a lot of laughs as well, and a lot of cultural significance. With Grant’s name attached to them, films and television shows always promise important social commentary and critical feminist and empowering views.
Because this project is being dubbed as a romance, we are hoping that this will be a romance between Hemsworth and Dern, showcasing a much-needed age gap relationship where the woman is the one who is ahead in years, but do we hope in vain? There is some information in the title, perhaps. Will this film have something to do with, well, the planet? In relation to space? More than likely, the title refers to how difficult it is to make connections nowadays, whether those connections are of a romantic nature or not.
The Cast
Universal Pictures
Liam Hemsworth is recognizable for his work in The Hunger Games trilogy as the stoic and ambitious Gale, as well as Independence Day: Resurgence, Isn’t It Romantic, and the quirky and heartbreaking Australian film The Dressmaker, starring opposite Kate Winslet. He is also part of the upcoming Russell Crowe-directed movie Poker Face. The younger Hemsworth is no stranger to portraying the good-looking boyfriend, the token gorgeous guy, or the humorously stereotypical himbo, particularly in films like Isn’t It Romantic, where he stars opposite Rebel Wilson’s cynical protagonist who has given up on love and romance until she meets Hemsworth. Since Lonely Planet is being marketed as a romance, by all accounts, though we don’t know if this film is a comedy just yet, we hope to see him taking up the mantle of gorgeous love interest with a lot to teach the protagonist about herself once again.
Laura Dern is known, of course, for films like Jurassic Park and Marriage Story. Her diverse career is filled with both popular movies and character studies. And who could forget her heroic, self-sacrificial, and underrated role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? After a brief respite from more mainstream box office or streaming sensations, audiences were thrilled that Dern won Best Supporting Actress for her fantastic work on the Netflix film Marriage Story as the divorce lawyer for Scarlett Johansson’s actress and disillusioned wife character. Dern also memorably played opposite Ray Liotta in the courtroom during the film’s divorce proceedings. Fans can furthermore look forward to seeing her reprise her paleontologist character Dr. Ellie Satler in Jurassic World: Dominion this summer after a long hiatus from the recently revived franchise.
Release Date
The next important updates for this film should include more information on supporting actors, actual plot details, and hopefully when audiences can expect to see the film release. Whatever news we receive, we are certainly very excited to see what Grant, Dern, and Hemsworth have for us on Lonely Planet.
