The Sun Never Sets teams Joe Swanberg with Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson for a character-driven drama that centers on a love triangle among a woman, her current partner, and her ex. An exclusive sneak peek teases tense confrontations and candid humor as the trio navigates commitment, desire, and family pressures, set against Alaska’s rugged backdrop and shot in 35mm. The project positions Swanberg’s signature intimate, grounded style in a more mainstream mold, emphasizing relationships with humor amid chaos. The film opens in theaters on September 4, after exclusive Chicago screenings on August 28, highlighting Johnson’s shift toward a more mature, dramatic role with strong ensemble chemistry.
Dive Deeper:
The Sun Never Sets follows Wendy (Dakota Fanning), her current boyfriend Jack (Jake Johnson), and her ex Chuck (Cory Michael Smith) as a tense, funny, and messy triangle unfolds, challenging notions of marriage, children, and personal happiness.
Director Joe Swanberg is noted for his quirky, relationship-focused comedies, and this project is described as an evolution toward a tauter, more mainstream film while maintaining his nuanced, grounded storytelling.
Collider’s exclusive scene features Wendy confronting Jack, with Fanning recounting an unscripted laugh that nonetheless made the final cut due to the performers’ chemistry.
Filmed on 35mm on location in Alaska, the production emphasizes a vivid natural setting that complements the film’s intimate dynamics and tonal balance between humor and heartbreak.
Jake Johnson, already a household name from New Girl, is highlighted as delivering a more mature performance, expanding his repertoire beyond comic tropes into a dramatic, relationship-centered role.
The film’s premise and cast are framed as a fresh take for Swanberg, with critical notes on how the collaboration among Johnson, Fanning, and Smith yields a complex, entertaining depiction of love’s messiness.
The Sun Never Sets is scheduled for theatrical release on September 4, following exclusive early screenings in Chicago on August 28, signaling a notable entry for both the director and its principals.