Meg Ryan Just Revealed Why It's Important The "What Happens Later" Characters Are In Their 50s
Before Gilmore Girls fall, Starbucks fall menu season, and sweater weather, there was Meg Ryan fall. Movies like You've Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless In Seattle are basically required viewing for anyone who considers themselves a rom-com lover. And it looks like we've got another one to add to the list — Meg Ryan's new movie What Happens Later! The fall movie comes out next month and we are already in love. Before you revamp your fall fashion to emulate all the oversized cardigans, turtlenecks, and pullovers in Meg Ryan's best outfits, catch up on everything you need to know about the movie.
What is What Happens Later about?
Based on Steven Dietz’s play Shooting Star, Willa (Meg Ryan) is a magical thinker, while Bill (David Duchovny) is more of a disaster-oriented one. When they reconnect after their flights are delayed, the old flames realize they're just as attracted to each other now as they were decades ago. "As they unpack the riddle of their mutual past and compare their lives to the dreams they once shared, they begin to wonder if their reunion is mere coincidence, or something more enchanted," according to the official synopsis.
Meg tells Glamour that the characters' ages play a large role in the story for her since they're in their 50s. “It’s a different story than when you’re in your 20s,” she says in the interview. “I wanted to make something beautiful and offer a new way of thinking about what love is.” We love the idea of redefining love in your 50s, especially since women are so often told they're too old to be a romantic lead.
One thing that connects What Happens Later and Meg's most iconic films? The idea of fate. “Whatever was happening, they were destined to find one another," she says of movies like When Harry Met Sally. "There’s a comfort in the kismet and the idea of an inevitable connection. It’s a wonderland idea. It’s an enchanted idea.”
How does What Happens Later end?
After a magical night in the airport, Willa and Bill get on their planes and wave to each other before take off. Even though they didn't exchange numbers, Meg Ryan tells EW she's confident they'll see each other again.
When is the What Happens Later release date?
What Happens Later is coming to theaters on November 3. As soon as we find out What Happens Later streaming details, we'll let you know!
Why did Meg Ryan take a break from rom-coms?
“I took a giant break because I felt like there's just so many other parts of my experience as a human being I wanted to develop,” Meg Ryan tells People ahead of What Happens Later. “It's nice to think of it as a job and not a lifestyle. And that is a great way of navigating it for me."
It sounds like, just like us, Meg is still perfecting work life balance, and what an identity looks like outside of her iconic film personas. She also shared that the idea for the movie came to her during the COVID-19 lockdown, a time when people had no choice but to confront their ideas of what community and connection look like.
"The essence of it is these two people who are stuck together," she says of What Happens Later. "I just love that idea that we’re held in a space, even if it feels conflicted, maybe for reasons that heal them."
Who is involved in the movie?
Meg Ryan is joined by David Duchovny, who has starred in The X-Files, The Bubble, and New Year's Day. Ryan also serves What Happens Later's director and co-writer (alongside Kirk Lynn)!
Meg and David appeared on Jimmy Kimmel at the end of October and revealed there's actually one more costar — but Meg Ryan wants to keep it a surprise. The voice (who Jimmy confirms is "a famous person") is listed under the pseudonym Hal Liggett. Although David denies Tom Hanks (who starred with Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail) is in What Happens Later, he also admits he doesn't know who the voice belongs to.
"All I can say about Hal Ligget is that he's somehow able to put his heart and his soul [into the voice]," Meg says. "He got laughs and he's an extremely generous performer, and I can't say much more...I just am so grateful that he did the movie."
*Is* it Tom Hanks? Is it When Harry Met Sally's Billy Crystal? Is it Kate & Leopold's Hugh Jackman? Our fingers are crossed for Tom Hanks but considering the film comes out this weekend, we won't have to wait long to find out!
Why is What Happens Later rated R?
What Happens Later is rated R for language, some sexual references, and brief drug use. When Harry Met Sally is also rated R, while Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail both received PG ratings when they were released.
Is What Happens Later affected by the strikes?
The SAG-AFTRA strike is still going strong, but like Priscilla and Sullivan's Crossing, What Happens Later has been given an agreement from the union. That means they can work in post-production and do press for the film!
What is the cast saying about What Happens Later?
The What Happens Later poster, starring Meg Ryan and David Duchovny. Image via Bleecker Street.
"It has a relationship to movies from the '40s, like Bringing Up Baby, in terms of the banter and the rhythm," Meg Ryan tells Entertainment Weekly. She adds that the way Nora Ephron (the writer behind movies like When Harry Met Sally and Julie & Julia) used rom-coms to comment on the times inspired her approach to What Happens Later.
"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 adds.
What are some other Meg Ryan movies to watch?
You can check out our full list of the best Meg Ryan movies, but here are some of our top recommendations:
- When Harry Met Sally
- You've Got Mail
- Sleepless In Seattle
- Top Gun
- Promised Land
- Anastasia
Are you excited for What Happens Later? Let us know your favorite Meg Ryan movie in the comments and check out our Facebook for more fun movie news!
Lead image via Bleecker Street.
This post has been updated.
