Chris Evans romantic chemistry in Materialists film takes center stage as director Celine Song introduces a fresh perspective on love in her newest project, Materialists. The film, featuring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Evans himself, invites audiences into a web of complicated relationships set against a vibrant New York backdrop.
A New Approach to Romantic Dynamics
Celine Song, following the success of Past Lives, chose a contrasting method in guiding her cast within Materialists. Where her previous work required Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro to keep their distance before filming emotional scenes, this time, Song encouraged close interaction between Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. This decision shaped the way their characters connect on screen, particularly between Johnson’s Lucy, a matchmaker caught between Pascal’s affluent Harry and Evans’ rugged John.
Song explained her reasoning for fostering this openness during production:
“They’re just so into each other,”
she notes with amusement about her cast. Through these rehearsals, the team aimed to develop authentic chemistry not just generally, but also tailored to the intentions of each scene.
“We were trying to be specific about the chemistry between them as characters too,”
Song elaborates, recognizing the nuanced direction required for each moment in the film.
“Because it has a different meaning and a different goal for each scene.”
The narrative, while distinct in tone from Past Lives, remains committed to exploring the uncertainty, desires, and choices inherent in romance. Song cryptically sums up the thematic collision at the heart of Materialists:
“The heart and the head, and then the math and the non-math,”
adding,
“Those crash into each other in this film.”
Drawing on Real Experiences as a Matchmaker
The inspiration for Materialists came in part from Song’s own brief stint as a matchmaker in New York. She credits this experience with providing insight into the human search for connection.
“I learned more about people in those six months than I did in any other part of my life,”
she remembers. Recalling her interactions with real match-seekers, Song emphasizes the vulnerability and bravery of those looking for love.
“People will just tell you what’s in their hearts, and what they’re worried about. They would say something so brave in my eyes, which is: ‘I want to fall in love.’”
What’s Next for Materialists and Its Cast
Materialists will premiere in UK cinemas starting August 15, inviting audiences to experience its take on romantic possibilities and emotional complexity. As the film’s release approaches, anticipation is building for how Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, and Pedro Pascal showcase the intricate chemistry carefully crafted under Celine Song’s direction. Interviews and features—including a detailed conversation with Song in the upcoming issue of Empire—promise additional insights into the creative process behind the film.
With themes drawn from lived experience and the combined talents of its key actors and director, Materialists aims to stir both heart and mind, positioning Chris Evans’ chemistry with his co-stars as one of its central draws.
