The North News
Chandigarh, June 5
What do you do when you’re torn between the irresistible pull of your charming ex and the allure of a flawless, wealthy new suitor? That’s the question at the heart of Materialists, the upcoming romantic comedy from acclaimed director Celine Song, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal.
In the film, Johnson plays Lucy — a whip-smart, brutally honest matchmaker who doesn’t believe in fairy-tale romance but in measured value and self-worth. Her carefully calibrated world begins to unravel as she finds herself caught between John (Chris Evans), her lovable but broke former flame, and Harry (Pedro Pascal), a seemingly perfect man who challenges her ideals in unexpected ways.
Director Celine Song says casting Harry was one of the most delicate choices in the process — and Pedro Pascal was the clear answer. “I needed someone completely lovable,” she says. “Pedro brings such vulnerability. Harry could’ve easily been a character we love to hate — too perfect, too polished. But Pedro plays him like an open wound. You can’t help but care.”
Song also revealed that the bond between the three leads brought something electric to the film. “They’re just so into each other,” she said of Johnson, Evans, and Pascal. “We worked a lot on specificity — how the chemistry shifts in every scene, depending on who’s in the room. It’s the head and the heart, the logic and the chaos — constantly crashing into each other.”
The off-screen friendship between the cast clearly added to the film’s dynamic energy. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Dakota Johnson affectionately referred to Pedro Pascal as her “homie.” She recalled their shared time off set, including a Stevie Nicks concert in London. “He’s wearing my sweater in that photo,” she laughed, pointing to a picture Fallon shared. “He always takes my clothes. He’s always underdressed — not like missing-pants underdressed, just like freezing-in-a-T-shirt underdressed.”
Their camaraderie — along with Evans’ grounded charm and Pascal’s emotional depth — shapes Materialists into something more than your typical love triangle. It’s a story about connection, self-worth, and the messy arithmetic of love.
Materialists hits Indian theatres on June 13th, 2025, via Sony Pictures Entertainment India.
