Lily Collins was barely recognizable on the streets of Nottingham this week, wrapped in a leather jacket and a weary stare that felt light-years away from Emily in Paris. The actress, 36, is in the thick of filming Close Personal Friends — Amazon MGM Studios’ new ensemble comedy directed by Jason Orley (I Want You Back) and produced by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger (Love, Simon).
Production began quietly in early October 2025 in London and Nottingham, with Collins shooting scenes that hint at the film’s sharp tonal contrast — awkward humor dipped in emotional realism. Amazon MGM has not set a release date yet, but the project is expected to premiere sometime in late 2026 following post-production.
From Emily to Awkward Reality
The film follows an ordinary couple who accidentally befriend two Hollywood stars while vacationing in Santa Barbara, California — a premise that sounds light until you see Lily Collins filming a grimy alleyway drug-deal scene in Kingston, Surrey.
Earlier set photos captured Collins wearing a burgundy beanie, denim jacket, and Adidas trainers, buying a wrap of fake crack cocaine beside a graffiti-covered wall. Hardly the glossy couture of Emily in Paris.
And that’s the point. Collins seems determined to shake off the shimmer of Netflix’s hit series. Her performance here — based on whispers from the crew — leans darker, quieter, almost British-dry in its humor. You can see it in her body language: shoulders hunched, eyes tired, still magnetic.
Amazon MGM Reunites a Comedy Dream Team
Close Personal Friends reunites Orley, Aptaker, and Berger with Amazon MGM after their 2022 success I Want You Back. The producing lineup includes The Walk-Up Company and Maximum Effort, Ryan Reynolds’ creative house known for its sharp marketing flair.
Alongside Collins, the film stars Brie Larson, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding — a quartet that alone could fill a Comic-Con panel. Newly added cast members include Anna Konkle (PEN15), Melissa Villaseñor (Saturday Night Live), Natasia Demetriou (What We Do in the Shadows), Jack Shalloo, Patti Harrison, and Dustin Demri-Burns.
That’s a comedy ensemble balanced between absurdity and grounded humanity — exactly where Orley works best.
Between Two Worlds: Paris and Personal Friends
Filming for Close Personal Friends began only weeks after Collins wrapped Season Five of Emily in Paris — now confirmed to release on Netflix December 18, 2025.
If Emily is pastel escapism, Close Personal Friends looks like its grayscale cousin. There’s dirt, drizzle, awkward silences — and a realism that feels distinctly British, even though the story unfolds in sunny California. It’s the kind of tonal mischief that might give Collins her most grounded role since To the Bone.
What Makes It Matter
Amazon MGM’s recent comedies — from I Want You Back to Sitting in Bars with Cake — have tried to reclaim the charm of 2000s rom-coms while sneaking in real melancholy. Close Personal Friends seems cut from that cloth: glossy surface, bruised underbelly.
For Collins, who recently became a mother via surrogacy, it’s also personal evolution. She’s shifting from rom-com icon to actress unafraid of unflattering angles — literal and emotional. Watching her navigate a cold Nottingham street, clutching fake flowers in the rain, you can feel that growth.
Genre Note — A Satirical Friendship Comedy
While official details are limited, insiders describe the film as a social satire on celebrity worship and modern relationships. Think The Trip meets You People. Expect cringe humor, sudden tenderness, and uncomfortable realism — all through Orley’s grounded, conversational lens.
That tonal duality — glitzy cast, messy human comedy — might make Close Personal Friends one of the most quietly subversive studio comedies in years.
What to Know About Close Personal Friends
Lily Collins transforms on set
The actress trades designer looks for gritty realism, embodying a more flawed and humane persona.
Filming locations
Shot across London, Nottingham, and Kingston, Surrey – all doubling for the film’s Californian backdrop.
Ensemble power
Brie Larson, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding co-star in Amazon MGM’s latest ensemble comedy.
Creative reunion
Director Jason Orley and writers Aptaker & Berger team up again after 2022’s I Want You Back.
Release timeline
Currently in production (October 2025); expected to arrive in theaters or on Prime Video in late 2026.
FAQ
Is Close Personal Friends based on a true story?
No — the film is an original comedy written by Isaac Aptaker and Jason Orley, though it draws on real-world celebrity culture and social awkwardness.
What genre is it exactly?
A hybrid of rom-com and satirical dramedy — balancing humor with emotional truth.
When will the movie be released?
No confirmed date yet, but filming runs through late 2025; a late-2026 debut is likely.
How does this fit into Lily Collins’ career path?
It marks her shift from the stylized world of Emily in Paris to more mature, subtler roles that showcase her dramatic range.
Is there a connection to the MCU or shared universe trend?
Not directly — but you can explore how Amazon MGM’s strategy contrasts with franchise filmmaking in our own Marvel Cinematic Universe: The Ultimate Guide & Timeline (MCU)
