Bridgerton Star Hannah Dodd Lands First Lead Film Role in Romantic Drama

Hannah Dodd, celebrated for her portrayal of Francesca in Netflix’s Regency-era drama Bridgerton, has secured her first leading film role. The British actress will headline Miss You Forever, Zara Drake, a romantic drama that explores the complex intersection of love and trauma. Lucas Jones, an actor and poet known for Break Clause, wrote, directed, and produced the film in his feature directorial debut. Jones will also star opposite Dodd in the production.

The film enters production in the United Kingdom and United States during spring 2027. The story centers on Zara Drake, a woman reaching the pinnacle of fame and notoriety, whose life takes a mysterious turn after falling in love with Isaac Owens, the frontman of a struggling band. One year after their romance begins, Zara appears to have vanished without a trace, setting up the film’s central mystery.

The official synopsis describes the narrative as unfolding in a timeless setting between New York City and the tree-lined streets of England. The film examines the dichotomy of a love fueled by resounding generational trauma and empty success, according to the description. Built on the iconography and heritage of the 1990s fashion scene, the story follows two lost souls fighting to outrun their trauma through an intense romantic connection.

Production Team and Creative Collaborators

Jones serves as producer alongside Eli Banfield for Maryland Films. Richard Holmes takes on executive producer duties for the project. The film assembles a team of experienced creatives, with Brendan Harvey serving as cinematographer and Sindri Már Sigfússon and Kjartan Holm handling composition work. Original music comes from Ava Lily, while Des Hamilton leads casting with additional support from Lauren Bayly.

The project marks a significant step forward for Jones, who transitions from acting to directing while maintaining his presence on screen. His background in poetry informs the film’s thematic exploration of masculinity, love, grief, and connection-subjects he addresses in his published work. Earlier this year, Jones released I Still Believe in Miracles: Poems to Find Meaning in Difficult Times, demonstrating his commitment to examining emotional depth across multiple artistic mediums.

Hannah Dodd’s Rising Career Trajectory

Dodd launched her television career in the Hulu series Find Me in Paris, followed by appearances in Harlots. She portrayed Sandra, the illusionary adult form of Sprite, in Chloe Zhao’s Marvel Cinematic Universe feature Eternals. In 2022, she starred as the younger version of Sienna Miller’s character in Netflix miniseries Anatomy of a Scandal, while also appearing in Netflix feature Enola Holmes 2 and Lifetime miniseries Flowers in the Attic: The Origin.

That same year brought the announcement that Dodd would replace Ruby Stokes in the third season of the Shondaland-produced Bridgerton as Francesca, described as the quietest and most introverted member of the Bridgerton family. The role elevated her profile significantly within the entertainment industry, positioning her for larger opportunities like this lead film role. Her portrayal brought depth to a character previously seen in limited capacity, earning recognition from fans of the popular period drama.

Lucas Jones Brings Multi-Disciplinary Vision

Jones, based in London, brings a unique perspective to filmmaking through his dual identity as actor and poet. His recent television work includes the romantic comedy Break Clause, the series Get Millie Black, and the feature We Work for the Dead. His poetic practice explores themes that directly inform the narrative of Miss You Forever, Zara Drake, particularly the examination of how trauma shapes relationships and personal identity.

The decision to set the film against the backdrop of 1990s fashion culture adds visual and thematic richness to the story. This era’s aesthetic-marked by both glamour and grunge, excess and authenticity-provides the perfect canvas for exploring characters caught between image and reality. The transatlantic setting between New York and England suggests a story about dislocation and the search for belonging across different cultural landscapes.

Film Explores Generational Trauma Through Romance

The project tackles generational trauma as a central theme, examining how unresolved pain from the past influences present relationships. By framing this exploration through a romantic drama, Jones creates space to investigate how two damaged individuals attempt connection while carrying the weight of their histories. The character of Zara Drake, at the height of public adoration yet ultimately disappearing, suggests a critique of fame’s hollow promises and the isolation that can accompany celebrity.

Isaac Owens, the struggling musician, represents another facet of artistic disillusionment-the fading dream and the fear of irrelevance. Together, these characters embody the film’s exploration of how empty success fails to fill the void left by trauma. The “timeless” quality of the setting allows the narrative to speak to universal experiences rather than being confined to a specific historical moment.

Spring 2027 Production Timeline Set

With production scheduled for spring 2027, the film remains in pre-production phases while the creative team finalizes logistics for shooting across two countries. The extended timeline provides ample opportunity for script refinement, location scouting, and assembling additional cast members beyond the announced leads. Maryland Films’ involvement brings production infrastructure and industry connections that should facilitate a smooth filming process across both the U.K. and U.S. locations.

For Dodd, the role represents a crucial career milestone-the transition from supporting player and ensemble member to leading actress carrying a feature film. Her work in high-profile projects like Bridgerton and Eternals provided visibility, but this opportunity allows her to demonstrate range and depth as a performer in a role specifically built around her talents. The romantic drama genre, while commercially viable, also permits serious exploration of character psychology when handled with care.

As streaming platforms continue reshaping film distribution and theatrical releases adapt to changing audience habits, Miss You Forever, Zara Drake arrives at a moment when intimate character studies find audiences alongside blockbuster spectacles. The combination of Dodd’s rising star power from Netflix’s Bridgerton and Jones’s distinctive artistic voice positions the project to attract attention from distributors seeking quality dramatic content with built-in audience appeal.