‘Lonely Planet’ Interview: Liam Hemsworth and Laura Dern

(L to R) Liam Hemsworth and Laura Dern star in ‘Lonely Planet’.

Premiering on Netflix beginning October 11th is the new romantic comedy ‘Lonely Planet’, which was directed by Susannah Grant (‘Catch and Release’), and stars Liam Hemsworth and Oscar-winner Laura Dern (‘Marriage Story’, ‘Jurassic Park’) and Liam Hemsworth (‘The Hunger Games’, ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Liam Hemsworth and Laura Dern about their work on Netflix‘s ‘Lonely Planet’, Dern’s approach to playing her character, Hemsworth’s character’s troubled relationship with his girlfriend, and how he and Dern got along working together on set.

Related Article: Milo Ventimiglia Talks ‘Land of Bad’ and Working with Liam and Luke Hemsworth

Laura Dern as Katherine Loewe in 'Lonely Planet'. Photo: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix © 2024.

Moviefone: To begin with, Laura, can you talk about your approach to playing Katherine and some of the aspects of this character you were excited to explore on screen?

Laura Dern: Rule number one in playing Katherine, love Liam Hemsworth! You meet him, you love him, and the rest is history. I felt like there wasn’t much research to prepare for connection. You either have it or you don’t. So, we were very blessed to have it from the moment we met. I do think, no matter how much research one can do to play a character, a novelist, understanding who she is, why her life feels broken at the time, the film is about being seen and deeply connecting to another person. It can be invented, but it will never feel the same. So, we felt the luxury of feeling the very same connection they felt from the minute we met, and that was just amazing.

(L to R) Diana Silvers as Lily Kemp and Liam Hemsworth as Owen Brophy in 'Lonely Planet'. Photo: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix © 2024.

MF: Liam, can you talk about Owen’s troubled relationship with his girlfriend and what happens when he meets Katherine?

Liam Hemsworth: When we meet Owen, you quickly see that things are not quite right in the relationship he’s in. He’s really at a crossroads of trying to figure out if that’s fixable or if they’re just on different journeys now, and it might be better to part ways. He’s also at the same time, dealing with who he is as an individual. Is what he’s doing really fulfilling and does it really translate to where he wants to go in life? By meeting Katherine, I think it’s a reminder and a realization that there’s more to love and love is being seen and heard and understood. He’s not exactly getting that in that relationship. But he’s also got some soul-searching to do for himself and to figure out what is important to him as an individual so that he can also be a good partner to someone else. Their relationship, as it evolves, you see that they bring out the best in each other and they really do listen, hear and are able to be vulnerable and explore these things that make love so important.

(L to R) Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth in 'Lonely Planet'. Photo: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix © 2024.

MF: Finally, Liam, what was it like working with Laura on this project?

LH: The first time we met there was this instant sort of connection and trust between us. For some reason, we felt like we could tell each other everything and be seen and heard and all these things that are in the film. We had that off the bat and we didn’t have to work for that. Sometimes, you can work with another great actor and you’re still able to do that sort of thing on screen, but maybe not necessarily have that in real life. We had both and it was a real gift for us to have that.

What is the plot of ‘Lonely Planet’?

At an idyllic writers retreat in Morocco; a newly single novelist (Laura Dern) finds an unexpected connection with a younger man (Liam Hemsworth) who’s reevaluating his life choices.