Amazon Studios has revealed the first teaser trailer for the upcoming drama filmLife Itself, written and directed byDan Fogelman, who’s found great success on the small screen with the hit NBC seriesThis Is Us. The film tells the love story of a couple played byOscar IsaacandOlivia Wilde, told through multiple generations and spanning both decades and continents. It’s the kind of sweeping, star-studded drama that can either go really well (Magnolia) or really poorly (Collateral Beauty). The key is not delving too deep into the saccharine, and it’s hard to tell from this debut trailer ifLife Itselfdoes that or not. UsingBand of Horsesis almost like cheating—ofcoursewhatever imagery you put to “The Funeral” is going to feel emotional.
Fogelman’s early feature credits were for writing family films likeBolt,Tangled, andCars 2, but he broke out in a big way with 2011’sCrazy, Stupid, Love.After that, he went on to create two semi-successful TV series:The NeighborsandGalavant. But of course it’sThis Is Usthat really exploded, which kind of feels like the TV equivalent ofCrazy, Stupid, Love.—a blend of romance, melodrama, and comedy.
That certainly seems like it could be the same tone forLife Itself, which marks Fogelman’s second film as a director after 2015’sAl Pacino-frontedDanny Collins. Will it be any good? Who knows, but theThis Is Uscrowd’s interest was no doubt piqued when this trailer debut during last night’s episode.
Check out theLife Itselftrailer below. The film also starsMandy Patinkin,Olivia Cooke,Laia Costa,Annette Bening, andAntonio Banderas.Life Itselfopens in theaters on September 21st.
Here’s the official synopsis forLife Itself:
Life Itself centers on a couple (Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde) that lead a multi generational love story spanning both decades and continents, from the streets of New York to the Spanish countryside, and are all connected by a single event.
