Emilia Clarke stars in “Next Life,” Drake Doremus’ sci-fi romance that premiered June 5 at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, exploring two parallel timelines when her character meets a jazz musician on a train.
Quick Facts
- Emilia Clarke plays Ivy, a woman navigating two distinct lives in modern London’s jazz world.
- The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 5, 2026, as a world premiere in the Spotlight Narrative section.
- Co-stars include Édgar Ramírez as a jazz musician and Jack Farthing as Ivy’s ex-fiancé.
- Vertigo Releasing acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights for an Autumn 2026 release.
In “Next Life,” Clarke’s character Ivy boards a train headed to her goddaughter’s christening. When she spills her coffee on a handsome stranger—a jazz musician with an adventurous spirit played by Ramírez—an unexpected romance sparks. But the film explores an alternate reality: what if she doesn’t spill the coffee and instead reconnects with her ex-fiancé, played by Farthing, a former corporate boss she once believed was the love of her life.
Doremus, known for films like “Like Crazy” and “Equals,” wrote and directed the 112-minute feature. The Tribeca description notes the film is “enlivened by expressive cinematography, funky nights at the jazz club and beautiful vocal performances by Clarke and Ramírez,” presenting an intimate exploration of love, fate, and timing.
The film’s premise examines the choices we make while falling in or out of love, celebrating love in all its forms, even when that form is heartbreak. Clarke’s emilia clarke character must ultimately decide which timeline, and which love, gives her everything she wants.
Sources
- Tribeca Festival — Official film page with premiere date, plot synopsis, cast, and screening times.
- Wikipedia — Film classification as science fiction romantic drama and Vertigo Releasing distribution details.
- Variety — Confirmation of Vertigo Releasing acquisition for UK and Ireland rights.
