Joe Swanberg directs The Sun Never Sets, an Alaska-set intimate romantic drama starring Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson.
Also starring in the movie are Cory Michael Smith, Debby Ryan, Anna Konkle, Lamorne Morris, and Karley Sciortino.
The Sun Never Sets celebrated its world premiere in the Narrative Spotlight section of the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival, and is set to open in select U.S. theaters on August 28, 2026, before expanding nationwide on September 4, 2026.
According to the film’s official synopsis: “Wendy (Dakota Fanning) believes she’s perfectly happy in her relationship, until her older boyfriend, Jack (Jake Johnson), who is divorced with children, insists they take a break to make sure she’s truly okay giving up on the idea of marriage and babies. During this time, Wendy unexpectedly runs into her ex, Chuck (Cory Michael Smith), who reignites her carefree and spontaneous side, and suddenly seems to want a family. The three of them navigate a chaotic, confusing, and often funny relationship triangle, reminding us that the pursuit of love is beautiful and messy all at once.”
Speaking about the inspiration behind the film, Joe Swanberg revealed that the story comes from his own experiences, telling People, “This story is very personal, and draws from several autobiographical elements of my life. Hearing Jake laugh (and cringe) when I recounted certain events, I knew we had something that could be entertaining, but also emotional. Dakota jumped in full force and had so much to share that I knew we had found the right material for our next project.”
In a review for RogerEbert.com following the film’s SXSW premiere, Brian Tallerico praised Swanberg’s return to filmmaking and highlighted the performances of Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson, noting, “However, what it lacks sometimes in dialogue, it makes up in character detail and even visuals. Swanberg shot it on 35mm in Alaska (a nod to the land of sunlight in the title), and it looks so much better than your average streaming dramedy. Most of all, Fanning and Johnson are just remarkably easy to root for, the kind of performers who can make a clunky script feel smooth through the sheer power of their likability.”
Watch the official trailer for The Sun Never Sets above.
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