Nothing quite compares to the allure of a luxurious getaway to a sun-drenched destination for bringing people together, a notion beautifully illustrated in films like Destination Wedding, Ticket To Paradise, Anyone But You, and countless others. With Netflix's upcoming resort romance, Lonely Planet, it appears that writer-director Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) aims to infuse a bit more depth into the typically comedic sub-genre. Starring Laura Dern as Katherine, a novelist seeking solace in Morocco to overcome her writer's block, and Liam Hemsworth as Owen, a younger man grappling with his own self-doubt, the film promises an intriguing dynamic. As Avril Lavigne once mused, "He was a boy, she was a girl, can I make it any more obvious?" Well, the trailer below offers a glimpse into the sparks that fly between them.
From a nerve-wracking car encounter to the gradual unearthing of their shared emotional burdens (he's in a relationship; Wikipedia suggests she might be too), to the undeniable chemistry that ignites by the poolside of their Moroccan retreat, Dern and Hemsworth's on-screen connection is already palpable. Moreover, this seems to be a more sophisticated take on age-gap romance from Grant, focusing more on where Katherine and Owen stand mentally and emotionally in their lives rather than just the surface-level romance. As Dern expressed in a statement shared by Netflix, "The interplay between the younger man and the older, established writer captivated me because it's not merely about romance — it's about encountering someone who truly sees and understands you, which resonates deeply with the human experience."
Joining the intercontinental love story are Diana Silvers (Booksmart), Ben Youcef (Munich), Bellina Logan (Palm Royale), Gustav Dyekjær Giese (The Quiet Ones), and Dillon Lane (The Guilty). We'll discover whether Katherine and Owen's summer romance endures or if it ultimately leaves them both sunburned when Lonely Planet debuts on Netflix on October 11. But let's be honest, our beloved Dino Girl and The Witcher's new monster hunter? It's a match made in cinematic heaven!
