British Rom-Com 'Rye Lane' to Debut on Hulu in March 2023
David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah in 'Rye Lane.'
Chris Harris/Searchlight Pictures/© 2022 20th Century Studios
British rom-com and Sundance darling Rye Lane will debut on Hulu in March 2023. In this homage to the genre and to the South London neighborhood in which it is set, a pair of 20-somethings collide in a classic meet-cute and help each other heal from heartbreak. The film stars Vivian Oparah (Class) as Yas, an aspiring costume designer with boundless energy, and David Jonsson (Industry) as Dom, a sweet, reserved accountant.
Opposites attract when the two encounter each other in the bathroom at a mutual friend’s art show, each reeling in their own way from recent breakups. They spend a day traversing the neighborhood of Peckham, a vivid and colorful setting, causing delightful mayhem, exchanging charming banter, and learning that they may be more open to love than they think. Director Raine Allen Miller makes her feature directorial debut alongside BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Nathan Bryon (Bloods), also making his feature film debut. Bryon is joined by co-screenwriter Tom Melia (Hollyoaks). The film is produced by Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo of DJ Films and Damian Jones of Turnover Films.
While this isn’t the first British indie rom-com of its kind to star a predominantly Black cast (think Been So Long and Boxing Day), such a film is still a rarity. Screenwriter Nathan Bryon expressed his desire to use his writing to spread positivity in an interview with Cinamore. “It’s Black joy,” he said of the film. “It’s Black love. You walk and hopefully fall in love with these two characters who meet on a day in London.”
The film made its debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival in January. It earned high praise from Deadline, IndieWire, and The Hollywood Reporter, confirming Bryon’s hope that the film would inspire joy in its viewers. This was Sundance’s first year with a fully in-person audience since 2020, and Rye Lane was one of several fresh, innovative films creating a buzz and helping the festival bounce back.
Oparah and Jonsson are joined by a supporting cast, including Karene Peter (Emmerdale) as Dom’s ex-girlfriend, Gia, and Benjamin Sarpong-Broni (The Young Cannibals) as Dom’s best friend, Eric. Alice Hewkin, Munya Chawawa, Simon Manyonda, Poppy Allen-Quarmby, and Malcolm Atobrah round out Yas and Dom’s world as their gaggle of family and friends.
If the outpouring of love from fans who were lucky enough to catch the film at Sundance is anything to go by, Rye Lane is sure to steal hearts and secure its place among rom-com royalty when it arrives in the States.
Rye Lane will stream on Hulu beginning March 31, 2023.
