There’s a surprising third co-star in Meg Ryan and David Duchovny’s upcoming movie! After “What Happens Later” had a special screening in New York City on Monday, Meg Ryan and David Duchovny, who play the film’s stars, talked about the uncredited voice of an airport announcer that appears throughout the romantic comedy.
There are just two characters in the movie, Ryan and Duchovny, besides this voice. Since Jimmy Kimmel hinted that the disembodied voice might be Tom Hanks’ during the pair’s appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last Wednesday, there has been an increase in curiosity and conjecture.
David Duchovny denied the involvement of Tom Hanks
Duchovny denied on Monday that Tom Hanks was in the movie, even going so far as to say he had no idea who was the voice actor. After clarifying that he wasn’t there when the voice work was completed in post-production, he said, “I don’t even know if it’s a man.”
Meg Ryan’s second film as director, “What Happens Later,” has an official credit for the character “Airport Voice,” which hides the actor’s identity under the pen name Hal Liggett. Ryan said that Hal Liggett brought his heart and soul to the role and even made the crowd chuckle.
In addition, David Duchovny said that the actor was incredibly generous as a performer in addition to being hilarious. Ryan conveyed her appreciation for the actor’s part in the film.
Duchovny joked that Hal Liggett might be Barack Obama’s alias, and Ryan clarified that the persona was modeled after the AI character HAL 9000 from the 1968 movie “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
She clarified that Hal Liggett’s speech in the film alternates between being completely factual and possessing a strong emotional element. Ryan underlined how exquisite the voice is, particularly when it tells her character, Willa, not to give up.
Meg Ryan and David Duchovny share having a great while filming
Years after their breakup, Bill and Willa, who were once in love, happen to cross paths at an airport in Meg Ryan’s latest movie. They meet unexpectedly when they are both stranded at the airport overnight after becoming snowed in by an unexpected snowstorm, which forces them to confront their shared past.
David Duchovny said he was immediately on board and how excited he was to collaborate with Meg on a comedy like this. He revealed that they had talked about the project and that setting things in motion took a full year. Duchovny also mentioned that, although it’s not customary for filmmakers to practice, he and Ryan did extensive rehearsals for the movie.
Duchovny said that they read the script aloud and through it several times during rehearsals via Zoom. Meg would make changes in these sessions. Duchovny found the experience to be fantastic, having practiced more than he had ever done for any project by the time they were ready to shoot.
Meg Ryan calls the movie “magical”
Ryan made her directorial comeback with “What Happens Later,” which was formally announced in 2022. It has been eight years since her 2015 debut with “Ithaca.” Speaking with PEOPLE about the film, she described the entire filmmaking process as “magical” and disclosed that the film was granted an interim agreement by SAG-AFTRA, allowing for publicity despite the ongoing actors’ strike.
According to Ryan, the film explores the journey of two people and raises the question of whether or not they will eventually cross paths again. “These are people who had broken each other’s hearts long ago,” she said. And I think that gratitude is what they’ve gained out of it.”
This Friday, “What Happens Later” opens in theaters.
