"Materialists" Trailer: Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans Navigate Love and Choices in New Romantic Drama from 'Past Lives' Filmmaker Celine Song

Past Lives writer-director Celine Song returns with a thoughtful romantic drama about love, career, and the choices that define us, starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans.

It wasn’t that long ago that filmmaker Celine Song broke onto the scene in a major way with her 2023 film Past Lives. A deeply emotional and moving meditation on past loves and present devotion, the film explored how personal relationships shape us into the people we are and the people we once were.

For her efforts, Song earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and Past Lives cemented her status as one of the most promising filmmakers of the future—arguably delivering one of the most impressive debuts in recent years.

Now, Song returns with her highly anticipated sophomore effort. There’s something known as the sophomore curse—the idea that even the most talented filmmakers can stumble with their second film.

But judging by the newly released trailer for Song’s latest, Materialists, that sophomore curse may have decided to skip this one entirely—because once again, Song seems to be going straight for the heart.

Featuring a stellar cast led by Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, Materialists looks to be a sharp and insightful follow-up to Song’s acclaimed debut.

Johnson takes on the role of a high-powered New York matchmaker who has built a career on finding perfect matches for her clients yet struggles to apply those same skills to her own love life. Despite unlucky in love, she soon finds herself in a dating dilemma: should she embark on a passionate romance with a charismatic professional (played by Pascal) or rekindle a relationship with her imperfect ex (Evans), who is still financially stuck in limbo, sharing an apartment with roommates and scraping by with odd jobs?

Song’s latest film presents a familiar romantic movie trope—a woman torn between two choices: the sophisticated man who seems to have his life together or the less-than-polished guy whose heart is in the right place.

The brain or the heart? The professional or the slacker?

It’s a setup that might as well be pulled straight from a ‘80s John Hughes rom-com classic, with Dakota Johnson essentially stepping into the Molly Ringwald role.

The difference? It looks like Song brings her signature touch of thoughtful sophistication and emotional graciousness. These aren’t angsty high schoolers—we’re dealing with adults with careers, responsibilities, and a deeper understanding of love and break-ups. And honestly? A little decorum is a refreshing change.

Written and directed by Song, and costarring Marin Ireland, Materialists is coming to theaters on June 13th. Watch the trailer, above.