A24 and producer Ari Aster are preparing to release The Drama, a dark romantic comedy slated to be a major contender for 2026's best film. The project marks the return of Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, following the critical success of Sick of Myself and Dream Scenario.
Set in the days leading up to a wedding, the film follows a couple whose relationship disintegrates after an unexpected secret surfaces. What begins as a traditional romance shifts into a psychological thriller driven by suspicion and anxiety.
A subversion of romance
Robert Pattinson and Zendaya lead the cast, delivering a performance centered on the emotional and physical dissolution of their characters' bond. The film utilizes a black comedy lens to examine the breakdown of trust and the collapse of romantic ideals.
Borgli’s narrative style often mirrors the sharp social critiques found in the works of Ruben Östlund, though Borgli focuses his lens on digital-age neurosis and the search for identity. The script uses the central relationship as a microcosm to critique structural hypocrisy within American society.
Supporting roles include Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie, playing a couple whose interactions provide a judgmental counterpoint to the protagonists. While the film avoids the extreme transgression of Borgli's previous works, it maintains a heavy thematic focus on modern social taboos.