Emily Ratajkowski has joined the cast of Still We Met, an independent romantic comedy currently filming in New York alongside stars Joe Alwyn and Mary Beth Barone. First reported on November 13, 2026, by Deadline, the casting reunites Ratajkowski with executive producer Lena Dunham following their recent collaboration on the Netflix comedy series Too Much. Directed by Zackary Drucker and written by Barone, the feature centers on a chance romantic encounter unfolding over a single night in New York City.
While specific character details for the cast remain under wraps, the project marks several significant career milestones for its creative team. Still We Met serves as the narrative feature directorial debut for fine artist and filmmaker Drucker, as well as the feature screenwriting and acting debut for comedian Barone.
The production brings together a mix of indie film veterans, television comedy producers, and established screen talent as principal photography proceeds on location.
A Semi-Autobiographical Night in New York
First unveiled in September 2026, Still We Met is billed as a semi-autobiographical romantic comedy drawn from Barone's script. According to Deadline, the narrative follows a young woman facing a personal crossroads who encounters a charming British stranger. Over the course of one night wandering the streets of New York, the pair end up revealing more to one another than either originally intended.
In its November 14, 2026 coverage of the announcement, Vulture framed the core setup directly around the two previously announced leads, noting that Barone's character meets Alwyn's British character before spending the night hanging out until sunrise.
While neither publication was able to confirm character names or specific plot mechanics, Vulture speculated that Ratajkowski could portray one of the New Yorkers the central duo crosses paths with during their late-night trek through the city.
The Creative Team Behind the Scenes
The production pairs emerging feature voices with seasoned independent film and comedy producers. Alongside directing the feature, Drucker steps into narrative cinema after building a profile in the fine art and television spaces. For Dunham, the movie represents another project under her Good Thing Going production banner, where she serves as an executive producer alongside Michael Cohen.
Producing duties on Still We Met are led by Jack Heller and Caitlin de Lisser-Ellen for Assemble Media, the company behind projects such as The Man I Love and Skeletons. They are joined by producers Alex Bach and Daniel Powell of Irony Point, a production banner widely known for the sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.
Madison Wolk is co-producing for Assemble Media alongside Blake Mars for Good Thing Going.
Busy Slates for Ratajkowski, Alwyn, and Barone
For the 35-year-old Ratajkowski, Still We Met adds to an expanding slate across film, television, and publishing, according to Yahoo Entertainment. After earlier screen appearances in David Fincher's Gone Girl, I Feel Pretty, Entourage, Lying and Stealing, and Welcome Home—as well as television roles in Easy, The Spoils Before Dying, and iCarly—she recently worked with Dunham on Netflix's Too Much. Ratajkowski is currently developing an untitled series with A24 for Apple TV. On the literary front, she is writing her second book, Mother F*cker, which Penguin Press acquired in a seven-figure deal following a 12-way bidding war. She is represented by Ocean Avenue and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
Barone enters her first feature film role following a rapid rise in comedy and streaming television.
Her stand-up special Galaxy Brain premiered on Netflix, and she has garnered attention for her role alongside on-screen mother Connie Britton in the series Overcompensating, which has begun releasing first-look material for its second season. Barone also co-hosts a popular podcast with comedian Benito Skinner.
Alwyn brings substantial dramatic and period film experience to the romantic comedy lead. Coming off the awards campaign for Hamnet and a role in The Brutalist, the British actor's past filmography includes The Favourite, Mary Queen of Scots, and Harriet. Beyond Still We Met, Alwyn's upcoming film pipeline features the thriller Panic Carefully—co-starring Julia Roberts, Elizabeth Olsen, and Eddie Redmayne—and The Origin of the World alongside Selena Gomez, Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Lily McInerny, and Amanda Seyfried. His upcoming television commitments include the comedy series The Husbands and the espionage drama Legacy of Spies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role will Emily Ratajkowski play in Still We Met?
Producers have not yet disclosed character names or plot specifics for Ratajkowski's role. While Mary Beth Barone and Joe Alwyn lead the cast as the two strangers wandering New York City overnight, Ratajkowski's exact connection to their storyline remains under wraps.
When will Still We Met be released in theaters or on streaming?
No release date, theatrical distributor, or streaming platform has been announced. While Deadline confirmed that production is currently underway in New York as of mid-November 2026, a formal filming wrap date and distribution strategy will likely be revealed after principal photography concludes.
How closely does the script follow Mary Beth Barone's real life?
The film is officially described as a semi-autobiographical romantic comedy written by Barone. However, the creative team has not publicly detailed which specific elements of the one-night New York encounter are pulled directly from Barone's personal experiences versus fictionalized for the screen.