Meg Ryan is making her acting comeback after eight years in her new self-directed romantic comedy, “What Happens Later.” The movie will pair her opposite David Duchovny in a story about a former couple who reunites two decades after their breakup when a snowstorm leaves them stranded at the airport together.
The 61-year-old actress opened up about making “What Happens Later” in an interview with fellow Hollywood icon Carol Burnett. Ryan and Burnett also chatted about the “Sleepless in Seattle” star’s nearly decade-long break from acting in an Interview magazine article published on Aug. 31.
“Truly, the easiest part was acting in it,” Ryan shared. “I hadn’t done a role in a really long time, but it was fun with David (Duchovny).”
“The X-Files” star plays Ryan’s ex in the flick.
She also said that she looked forward to directing another film because being behind the camera allows her to see scenes from a different point of view.
When Burnett asked about the filming schedule for her latest romantic comedy, Ryan replied, “We shot over the course of 21 nights and we did maybe three or four takes. Neither of us wanted to be up past 9:30 a.m.”
Ryan later shared that they were able to nail multiple scenes in just two shots.
“I’m proud of that,” she said. “I set up everything beforehand so that once we were there, it was just David and I trying to tell the truth.”
“What Happens Later” follows exes Willa (Ryan), a “magical thinker,” and Bill (Duchovny), a “catastrophic one,” who get snowed in at an airport overnight together.
Per the film’s synopsis, during their delay and time together, they “find themselves just as attracted to and annoyed by one another as they did decades earlier.”
“What Happens Later” is set to be released in theaters in October 2023. Ryan is also set to direct and star in another rom-com, “Every Girl,” which is currently in development.
