Kieran Culkin and Nancy Meyers are teaming up again, three decades after the Father of the Bride era. Meyers says her next movie is finally gearing up, and Culkin is the first name on the call sheet. Yes, that means Meyers is back in the director's chair for the first time since 2015. About time.
What Meyers actually said (and what it likely means)
Meyers confirmed the Culkin casting at a Father of the Bride screening in Los Angeles, adding that cameras are set to roll in May. She did not share a title or plot. Vulture reports the new movie is being made for theatrical release, not streaming.
The obvious question: is this the long-rumored Paris Paramount? That was Meyers's romantic comedy that Netflix initially greenlit, then let go when the budget swelled. The project stalled out in 2023. She has not said this new movie is the same one, but the tea leaves look familiar.
"The movie is about a group of people making a film and the magic and mystery of what we do."
That was Meyers's own description of Paris Paramount. If this is the same script dusted off for theaters, it is very on-brand for her: glossy, meta, and probably full of very expensive kitchens.
The reunion angle
This is a legit throwback moment. Culkin and Meyers worked together when he was a kid, in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II. They have not shared a set in more than 30 years. As of now, Culkin is the only actor publicly attached; an earlier version of the project had a different ensemble, but those names are no longer expected to be involved.
Where this lands in Meyers's career
Meyers made a run of hits that basically defined modern studio romcoms: The Holiday, Something's Gotta Give, It’s Complicated, The Parent Trap. Her last feature was The Intern in 2015. So a theatrical return with a star fresh off Succession is a big play, and honestly, a smart one.
- Who: Kieran Culkin starring; Nancy Meyers writing/directing
- What: Untitled feature, widely speculated to be the revived Paris Paramount
- When: Filming slated to start in May
- Where: Announced at a Father of the Bride screening in Los Angeles
- Release plan: Being developed for theaters, per Vulture
- Cast status: Culkin is the only confirmed actor; earlier attached cast from the Netflix version is not expected to carry over
- Backstory: Netflix walked away from the previous iteration after budget talks ballooned; the project has been sitting since 2023
Bottom line: Meyers is back, Culkin is in, and if this is the resurrected Paris Paramount, it is getting a second life on the big screen. More details soon, presumably with a title and the rest of the cast. Until then, I will be picturing Culkin navigating a very elegant living room while a lot of banter happens around him.