The People We Hate At The Wedding - What We Know So Far

Weddings have continuously proven to be a compelling setting for films or TV shows over the years. From "The Wedding Planner" to "Bridesmaids" to "Bride Wars," there's no shortage of wedding-themed content. There will soon be another movie to add to the list, and it stars actors we love. 

As reported by Variety, Amazon Studios is currently working on "The People We Hate at the Wedding," based on the 2017 book of the same name by Grant Ginder. The novel will be adapted for the screen by Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin and Wendy Molyneux, the same writing duo behind the upcoming "Deadpool 3" and episodes of "Bob's Burgers." Additionally, "The People We Hate at the Wedding" will be directed by Claire Scanlon, who helmed the 2018 Netflix romantic comedy "Set It Up," as well as numerous episodes of popular TV shows, such as "The Office" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (via IMDb). Variety also notes that repeat Amazon Studios collaborator FilmNation Entertainment is producing the film. Past collaborations between the two companies include 2017's "The Big Sick" and 2019's "Late Night."

Between an exciting filming location and an even more exciting cast list, there's a lot about "The People We Hate at the Wedding" to pique movie watchers' interests. Here's what we know about the upcoming comedy, including release date, cast, and plot.

An exact date has not yet been revealed for "The People We Hate at the Wedding." However, as of late September 2021, the upcoming project has begun filming, per Variety. The outlet also notes the movie will be released on Amazon Prime sometime in 2022.

To speculate on a more specific release date, we can look at "The Big Sick," one of the previously mentioned collaborations between Amazon Studios and FilmNation Entertainment. "The Big Sick" was announced in December 2015 (via Variety), and casting announcements began in February 2016 (via The Hollywood Reporter). Production began in May 2016, and then the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2017, per The Hollywood Reporter, before arriving in theaters that summer. With that in mind, we can expect to see "The People We Hate at the Wedding" premiere on the streaming service in just about a year, so likely fall 2022, if not sooner.

Per Empire magazine, "The People We Hate at the Wedding" will star Kristen Bell, Ben Platt, and Allison Janney. Bell, arguably one of the most popular actors working right now, wrapped up her role on the NBC sitcom "The Good Place" in 2020. Platt reprised his Tony-winning role in the film adaptation of the Broadway hit "Dear Evan Hansen," which debuted in theaters in September. Finally, Janney, a veteran actor, just wrapped up her eight-year run on the CBS sitcom "Mom" and will soon be seen in the upcoming films "Lou" and "To Leslie."

Empire also shares other familiar names appearing in the new movie's supporting cast. Additional actors in "The People We Hate at the Wedding" cast include Dustin Milligan, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and Tony Goldwyn. Milligan is best known for playing Ted Mullens on all six seasons of "Schitt's Creek," as well as appearing in films like 2018's "A Simple Favor" (via IMDb). Addai-Robinson has appeared in various television shows, including "Chicago Med" and "Arrow," and will star in the upcoming "The Lord of the Rings" prequel series (via IMDb). Goldwyn, meanwhile, is known for starring as Fitzgerald Grant in "Scandal" and, more recently in "The Hot Zone: Anthrax" (via IMDb). Rounding out the cast is Karan Soni ("Miracle Workers"), Julian Ovenden ("Bridgerton"), Jorma Taccone ("Girls"), and Isaach De Bankolé ("Godfather of Harlem").

According to Variety, the official plot of "The People We Hate at the Wedding" follows two "struggling American siblings Alice (Bell) and Paul (Platt), who reluctantly agree to attend the wedding of their estranged, wealthy half-sister in the English countryside alongside their mother, Donna (Janney)." While the trio is in England for the week, many family secrets come to light, causing more complications than they initially expected.

The Goodreads page for the Grant Ginder's 2017 book on which the upcoming film is based provides more insight into the story. It is revealed Donna is "a widow living in the Chicago suburbs with a penchant for the occasional joint and more than one glass of wine with her best friend while watching 'House Hunters International.'" Alice is smart and beautiful but distracts herself from the confines of a dead-end job by having an affair with her (very married) boss. As for Alice's brother, Paul is in a committed relationship with his professor boyfriend, although one or both of them may be reconsidering their monogamous relationship. Eloise, Alice and Paul's half-sister, is "the product of Donna's first marriage to a dashing Frenchman" and is "infuriatingly kind and decent" despite having an ultra-privileged lifestyle made possible by a trust fund.

It's currently unknown how closely the adaptation will stick to the source material, but it's clear that there is a whole lot to work with from Ginder's novel. We can't wait to see how it plays out on screen when "The People We Hate at the Wedding" is released next year.