Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson Navigate a Complicated Love Triangle in “The Sun Never Sets” Trailer (Exclusive)
Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson Navigate a Complicated Love Triangle in “The Sun Never Sets” Trailer (Exclusive)
Rebecca AizinWed, July 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC
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Cory Michael Smith and Dakota Fanning in The Sun Never SetsCredit: Independent Film Company/YouTube
Jake Johnson and Dakota Fanning star in The Sun Never Sets, writer-director Joe Swanberg’s first feature film in seven years, which the actors also co-produced
The film, set in Alaska, explores love, timing and personal growth through an emotionally charged love triangle
The Sun Never Sets releases in limited theaters Aug. 28 before going wide Sept. 4
Jake Johnson and Dakota Fanning are two people navigating a complex dynamic in their first collaboration, The Sun Never Sets.
The New Girl alum, 48, and the All Her Fault star, 32, are joined by Saturday Night‘s Corey Michael Smith in a love triangle for writer-director Joe Swanberg’s first feature film in seven years.
Per the logline, “Wendy (Fanning) finds her life upended when her boyfriend Jack (Johnson)—older, divorced, and with children—asks for space to reassess their relationship. During their separation, Wendy reconnects with her ex, Chuck (Corey Smith), sparking an emotionally charged love triangle that forces all three to confront the realities of love, timing, and personal growth.”
The trailer opens on Wendy and Jack enjoying their life together in Alaska, until Wendy realizes the things she thought she didn’t want — like kids and marriage — could be something she is interested in after all. To that end, Jack encourages her to spend some time on her own — during which she reunites with Chuck.
“I’m in love with you. Anything that he can offer you, I will offer you,” Jack tells Wendy at one point. At another tense moment, Wendy says, “You only wanted me when you thought you couldn’t have me anymore.”
Johnson, a frequent collaborator of Swanberg’s, joined the cast for “the chance to work with Joe,” he tells PEOPLE exclusively, noting that his character is also loosely based on the director.
Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson in The Sun Never SetsCredit: Independent Film Company/YouTube
“This story is very personal, and draws from several autobiographical elements of my life,” Swanberg adds. “Hearing Jake laugh (and cringe) when I recounted certain events, I knew we had something that could be entertaining, but also emotional. Dakota jumped in full force and had so much to share that I knew we had found the right material for our next project.”
The film takes place in Alaska, which ends up being a character of its own in the movie.
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“Alaska is almost the most important character in the film,” Fanning says. “Without the Alaskan landscape, it would be a completely different movie. It was truly incredible to be surrounded by the nature, and to experience the sun never really setting.”
Johnson echoes Fanning’s sentiments, adding that filming on site — which he calls “another world from California” — was “essential” to the movie.
The chilly remote setting was also instrumental in helping Johnson and Fanning build their intimate bond.
“Dakota and I lived next to each other and shared a rental car,” he says. “She was a huge part of my Alaska experience. We saw glaciers together and were lucky enough to be there during Salmon Season.”
The trailer also includes a quick cameo from Johnson’s New Girl costar and close friend, Lamorne Morris. Naturally, Morris’s casting was Johnson’s idea, marking the first time the beloved pair reunite in a scripted project since the show wrapped in 2018.
Jake Johnson and Lamorne Morris in The Sun Never SetsCredit: Independent Film Company/YouTube
“Lamorne is my family. Not my chosen family. But my family,” Johnson says, before joking, “There is no shaking him. So I have learned to accept it. Yes, I texted him. He made the contractual stuff difficult. Like always.”
The movie, which is co-produced by Johnson and Fanning, also stars Debby Ryan, Anna Konkle and Karley Sciortino.
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The Sun Never Sets releases in limited theaters Aug. 28 before going wide on Sept. 4.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
