By K.J. Yossman
According To The variety “Next Life,” the romantic drama feature starring Emilia Clarke as an aspiring jazz singer, has been snapped up by Vertigo Releasing for the U.K. and Ireland.
Clarke (“Game of Thrones,” “Me Before You”) plays opposite Édgar Ramírez (“Emilia Pérez”) and Jack Farthing (“Towards Zero”). Femi Koleoso, drummer and leader of British jazz group Ezra Collective, also appears in his on-screen debut.
Written and directed by Drake Doremus (“Zoe and Equals”), “Next Life” is set in London’s jazz scene where Clarke’s character Ivy embarks on two alternate realities forcing her to reconsider life and love.
“Playing out both stories concurrently, ‘Next Life’ takes us down not one but two paths in this complex maze we call life,” reads the synopsis.
The film, which is set to premiere at Tribeca Film Festival on June 5, will be released in U.K. and Irish cinemas fall 2026.
“I’ve never felt that level of joy in a job,” Clarke told Variety of her experience making the film. “When I was younger, I did a lot of jazz singing, so getting to be a jazz singer [in the film] was really profound.”
Ed Caffrey, Vertigo Releasing’s chief commercial officer said: “We thrilled to be bringing ‘Next Life’ to U.K. audiences. Drake Doremus has crafted a genuinely transporting, emotionally intelligent love story set against the backdrop of London’s thrillingly alive jazz scene. And Emilia Clarke delivers a performance of real warmth and complexity at its heart.”
“Next Life” is produced by Mutressa’s Elika Portnoy, Gleb Fetisov of Fetisoff Illusion, Emilia Clarke’s Magical Thinking Pictures, 42’s Ben Pugh and Kate Buckley, Doremus, and John Palfery Smith.
Caffrey negotiated the distribution deal with Rocket Science, who are handling international sales.