This Is Us is beloved by fans for its ability to make everyone shed a tear (or two or three) over the touching family relationships that played out over the first two seasons. Now, Season 3 is set to premiere on September 25, but show creator Dan Fogelman has another exciting project coming up a few days earlier, and we think you’ll love this one, too.
New film Life Itself is written and directed by Fogelman, and the trailer alone is enough to have us reaching for some tissues. Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde star as a new, head-over-heels couple, but the film’s full story spans generations and dips into the lives of several other characters, played by Hollywood heavyweights like Mandy Patinkin, Antonio Banderas and Annette Bening, to name a few.
According to The Huffington Post, the film takes place in both New York City and Spain, and the story aims to show how the decisions we make in life and love have impacts far beyond ourselves. And Fogelman’s directorial touch is clear here: the same moving and heartwarming storylines and dialogue that made This Is Us an award-winning show are displayed here (Isaac’s speech at the beginning was just so. Damn. Beautiful.).
If the trailer wasn’t enough to make you want to see this film, it’s already gotten some high-profile seals of approval that might change your mind. John Green (who, based on The Fault In Our Stars, knows a thing or two about how to write something that makes people cry) raved about the film on Twitter, having seen it at an early screening. “Months later, I still feel the story’s presence,” he wrote.
I saw this film at an early screening, and like everyone there, I wept and wept (and laughed). Months later, I still feel the story's presence. Congrats to @Dan_Fogelman and everyone who made it. Can't wait for the world to see Life Itself! https://t.co/qYfIshYdnS
— John Green (@johngreen) July 10, 2018
This Is Us stars Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore (aka your favorite couple) both also tweeted about the film, promising that it will “change your life” and calling it “brilliant.”
Never been more impacted by a film. Hey all, our boy Danny has a film comin out...and it will change your life. #LifeItself MV https://t.co/oACpkDS5DM
— Milo Ventimiglia (@MiloVentimiglia) July 10, 2018
Everything @Dan_Fogelman touches is brilliant—life-affirming, heart breaking and everything in between. This movie is no exception and I can’t wait to see it again. #lifeitselfhttps://t.co/120ydth8f4
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) July 10, 2018
Even Barbra Streisand put in her two cents, getting a pretty funny reaction from Fogelman himself.
Complex, romantic, shocking, mysterious, moving... like life itself! Everything you want in a movie. I just saw it. It's by my friend @Dan_Fogelman. It's wonderful and called “Life Itself.” #LifeItselfhttps://t.co/EiE7z2BBUj
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) July 10, 2018
Whoa. My entire family just passed out. #LifeItselfhttps://t.co/yFmRybF7P3
— Dan Fogelman (@Dan_Fogelman) July 10, 2018
With all this hype, how could we not be excited for this movie? Life Itself will open in theaters on September 21.