Upcoming Sci-Fi Drama 'The Sun Never Sets' Set for U.S. Release

By Published May 6, 2026, 1:19 PM EDT Dan Zinski is a freelance scribe currently contributing to ScreenRant as a movie and TV news writer. He previously wrote for FanSided, The Viking Age and Lightly Buzzed. follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

’s “career-best” performance will soon see the light of day.

casts the War of the Worlds star opposite Jake Johnson and Cory Michael Smith in a new drama from famed mumblecore director Joe Swanberg. Shot on film in the perpetual sunlight of Alaska, the movie made its debut at SXSW, and garnered enough positive buzz to achieve a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Fanning and Swanberg’s Alaska-set film festival gem is now slated to bask in the bright light of a U.S. theatrical release, after being picked up by Independent Film Company, who plan to roll the film out in 2026. International rights have been acquired by Capture Entertainment (via ) before the film heads to the Cannes market.

EVP of International Sales at Capture Entertainment Ella Field praised the , saying in a statement, “Working with Joe Swanberg is a career high in itself—made even more extraordinary by a career-best turn from Dakota Fanning the irresistible humour of Jake Johnson and undeniable charm of Corey Michael Smith. We can’t wait for audiences to experience this authentic, hilarious, and heartfelt film.“

Swanberg and fellow producers Johnson and Ashleigh Snead returned the positive vibes in their own statement, saying, “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Capture Entertainment on the international rollout of The Sun Never Sets. Their expertise in navigating the global marketplace, combined with the visibility of Cannes, creates a powerful opportunity to connect the film with audiences worldwide.”

The film’s logline reads, “Wendy’s (Fanning) life is thrown into chaos when her boyfriend Jack (Johnson) asks to put their relationship on pause. Forced into emotional limbo, she unexpectedly reconnects with her ex, Chuck (Michael-Smith), who is adventurous, wild – everything Jack isn’t. Caught in a love triangle she didn’t ask for, Wendy must choose between her past and her future.”

calls Fanning’s performance a “career-best,” saying of the star, “Ultimately, The Sun Never Sets is her film, and she is such an infinitely pleasurable actor to watch that everything else goes down smoothly (though it is frankly a little hard to buy into the idea that she is a construction worker).”

The review continues, “Swanberg, who wrote, directed and edited the film, as is his wont, gives us an uncommonly tender portrait of an intersection we all must find ourselves facing at least once. The sun that never sets is the one that forces us to continuously re-evaluate our own lives. But that's not a bad thing. It's warm underneath its rays."

9/10 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed Release Date March 13, 2026 Runtime 102 minutes Director Joe Swanberg Writers Joe Swanberg Producers Dakota Fanning, , , Joe Swanberg