Dakota Fanning’s ‘The Sun Never Sets’ SXSW 2026 Film Explores a Complicated Love Triangle

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I’m a sucker for a good, complicated romance, and it looks like the new film, The Sun Never Sets, really delivers on that front. The premiere at SXSW 2026 in Austin was apparently a hit – people seemed to absolutely love it!

Joe Swanberg’s film centers on Wendy, played by Dakota Fanning, whose life gets complicated when her boyfriend, Jack – who’s divorced and has children – suggests they need some time apart. Things become even more tangled when Wendy unexpectedly reconnects with her former partner, Chuck, creating a messy and unpredictable love triangle.

The movie boasts an impressive cast, including Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson from Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, Cory Michael Smith of Gotham, Debby Ryan known from Jessie, and many other talented actors.

TopMob attended the premiere of the film at SXSW and had the chance to interview the stars and creators, including Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Cory Michael Smith, Debby Ryan, Karley Sciortino, and Joe Swanberg.

You can find more from SXSW on TopMob, including their interviews with Bob Odenkirk and the creators of Normal, a new action film featuring the acclaimed Better Call Saul star.

Exploring Today’s Messy Love In ‘The Sun Never Sets’

“People Are Doing Their Best…”

  • TopMob: “Romance is a common thing within storytelling. I’m curious, how does this movie tackle that in a unique way, or at least a very relevant way to the society we live in today?”

Jake Johnson explained that the director based the characters’ relationships on his own personal experiences, particularly a breakup. Sometimes, what felt natural to Jake or Dakota in a scene wouldn’t align with the director’s vision because it didn’t reflect his actual experiences. Jake believes the movie is truthful, but that truth is filtered through the director’s own perspective.

I think the film explores relationships and the complicated, messy parts of them in a way that feels very real. Life doesn’t always have neat endings, and people often make mistakes or hurt others without meaning to. It’s just a difficult part of being human – navigating relationships, communicating, and everything else. We really aimed for a realistic depiction of a modern love triangle, touching on themes that many people can relate to, either through their own experiences or by seeing it happen to others. It’s just a portrayal of how hard it is to be a person.

Corry Michael Smith explained that the project felt very personal, drawing heavily from the life of the character Joe. He described working with Joe as a fascinating creative challenge, as Joe often explores his own experiences. However, Smith noted that the final product is still a reimagining of those experiences, filtered through changes in character and creative choices.

It’s fascinating how this all comes together, especially because we create it through improvisation. It feels incredibly personal – like we’re all drawing on our own memories and experiences to make it happen.

How does this connect to today’s world? Honestly, I’m not sure – I’m no expert on relationships. But it seems like we’re seeing more and more different kinds of relationships, and it feels like people are having a harder time finding and maintaining love. Marriage rates are also down, which is likely connected.

Debby Ryan believes that successful relationships, both romantic and professional, depend on clear communication. However, she points out that communication is very personal and people interpret things differently based on their own experiences. This can be difficult because you can feel so close to understanding someone, yet still miss the mark. She praises Joe for his ability to show the perspectives of all parties involved, helping you see why people act the way they do, and for doing so without making anyone seem like the ‘bad guy’. It’s a tough skill, she thinks, to show understanding without placing blame.

Joe Swanberg explained that they aimed for authenticity in their film, acknowledging that some things are naturally amplified for the screen. The main goal for everyone involved was to be truthful and genuine, and to tell a story that, while personal and specific, would resonate with a wider audience. He believes sharing their own experiences is the best way to connect with viewers.

That’s a great question. What I find interesting about the relationships in this movie – it’s a love triangle, which is a familiar storytelling device – is how truthfully it portrays modern dating. We often feel like we’re self-aware and making thoughtful decisions, but…

This movie features a character who tries to act very mature and make decisions like a therapist would. They attempt to be unpossessive and figure out what they truly need, relying on logic and what they believe is the best course of action.

Beyond making the ‘right’ decision, or even what therapy might suggest, these characters are also grappling with their raw, instinctive desires. It’s a question of both who they should be with, and who they’re truly attracted to.

The full red carpet interviews can be viewed below.

The Sun Never Sets does not currently have a release date.

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2026-04-05 02:08