The Oscar run of the Sing Sing film and the critical acclaim of May December have put the hit-making duo of Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar in the spotlight. Netflix is teaming up with them for their next feature film called Saturn Return. The film follows 3 characters who meet after 10 years and find that there’s a lot to hash out between them. Bentley will write the screenplay with Gaelyn Golde, and Greg Kwedar will write and direct. A late 2026 release on Netflix is possible.
Saturn Return means that the streaming giant has faith in Kwedar and Bentley for crafting great characters and narratives. After all, Bentley is also the director of Netflix’s next film, called Train Dreams, which was penned by him and Kwedar. Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, as well as Neon, are working with Netflix to create Saturn Return.
Production is scheduled to begin in October 2025. The budget for the film is expected to be in the $13-14 million range (via What’s On Netflix). As for the cast, at the time of writing, Charles Melton, Rachel Brosnahan, and Will Poulter have been announced. So, the film is shaping up to be something to look forward to.
What Will Saturn Return Be About?
Saturn Return is looking like a story that could be set across two timelines. One is the freshman year of the characters’ college life, and the other is 10 years later. The logline reads (via What’s On Netflix):
During their freshman year of college, Eve, Anders, and Nathan were the best of friends. Then Eve and Anders fell in love. Now, ten years later, they’re reuniting at his father’s funeral as virtual strangers… Saturn Return explores what was lost in between and what can still be found.
Nothing much else is known about the film, but if the title is anything to go by, then it could refer to the astrological phenomenon of the same name. Netflix explains:
The phrase “Saturn return” refers to the time in a person’s life when that planet completes its transit and once again occupies the same position in the sky as it did when a person was born. It’s a period full of change and self-discovery — a time of realization.
It takes the planet Saturn almost 29 years to do a full lap through the 12 zodiac signs. So, the late and early 30s are thought to be the time when people discover themselves and decide on what they are going to commit to. It’s an interesting concept that will be exciting to see explored.
Saturn Return’s Development Status and Casting Speculations
Saturn Return is currently in the pre-production phase, and it’s expected to soon enter its principal photography phase. Casting directors Laura Rosenthal and Kimberly Ostroy have brought on board the three main leads:
- Charles Melton as Anders
- Rachel Brosnahan as Eve
- Will Poulter as Nathan
The main cast are all riding the high of several successful projects. Brosnahan is especially coming back off Superman right now. Melton is known for Riverdale, and Poulter has appeared in a number of famous projects like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, and more.
At the time of writing, no supporting cast has been named, but more casting news is expected to follow soon. The executive producers of the film are Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Emily Wolfe. Production on the film will begin on October 6, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois (via What’s On Netflix).
Filming is supposed to continue from October through November in Chicago to capture the Midwestern locales. Kwedar and Bentley were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Sing Sing. If this next project also turns out to be as critically acclaimed, then it would be another feather in Kwedar and Bentley’s cap.
Are you excited for Saturn Return? Let us know what you think the film will be about in the comments below. Keep checking back for more updates regarding trailer drops, premiere dates, and more.
Sing Sing is currently streaming on HBO Max.