Bridgerton Star Hannah Dodd Lands Lead Role in New Romantic Drama 'Miss You Forever, Zara Drake'!

Hannah Dodd, celebrated for her portrayal of Francesca in Netflix’s popular Regency-era series “Bridgerton,” has secured her inaugural lead role in a feature film. The British actress, whose credits also include “Enola Holmes 2” and “Anatomy of a Scandal,” is set to star in the upcoming romantic drama titled “Miss You Forever, Zara Drake.” This film marks the feature directorial debut of actor and poet Lucas Jones, known for his work in “Break Clause,” who also penned the script and will produce and star opposite Dodd.

Scheduled for production in both the U.K. and U.S. in spring 2027, “Miss You Forever, Zara Drake” centers on Zara Drake, a woman at the zenith of her public adoration and notoriety. However, a year after she falls in love with Isaac Owens, the frontman of a band on the verge of fading into obscurity, Zara mysteriously vanishes. The film's synopsis describes it as being “Set in a timeless age between New York City and the tree-lined streets of England,” and delving into “the dichotomy of a love fuelled by resounding generational trauma and empty success.” Drawing on the aesthetic and legacy of the 90s fashion scene, the narrative follows two lost souls as they endeavor to outrun their past traumas.

Lucas Jones is producing the film in collaboration with Eli Banfield for Maryland Films, with Richard Holmes serving as executive producer. The key creative team assisting Jones includes cinematographer Brendan Harvey, composers Sindri Már Sigfússon and Kjartan Holm, and original music contributed by Ava Lily. Casting responsibilities are handled by Des Hamilton, with additional casting by Lauren Bayly.

Dodd’s acting career began with her television debut in the Hulu series “Find Me in Paris,” followed by appearances in “Harlots.” She also played Sandra, the illusionary adult form of Sprite, in Chloe Zhao’s MCU feature “Eternals.” In 2022, she took on the role of the younger version of Sienna Miller’s character in the Netflix miniseries “Anatomy of a Scandal” and featured in the Netflix film “Enola Holmes 2” and the Lifetime miniseries “Flowers in the Attic: The Origin.” That same year, it was announced she would be replacing Ruby Stokes as Francesca, the quietest and most introverted member of the Bridgerton family, in the third season of the Shondaland-produced drama.

Lucas Jones, a Londoner, complements his screen work with an accomplished career as a poet, exploring themes such as masculinity, love, grief, and connection in his writing. His book, “I Still Believe in Miracles: Poems to Find Meaning in Difficult Times,” was released earlier this year. Beyond his roles in recent TV rom-com “Break Clause” and series like “Get Millie Black” and the feature “We Work for the Dead,” Jones once fronted the band The Rose Affair, showcasing his diverse artistic background.