Meg Ryan sets rom-com return in Lena Dunham’s ‘Good Sex’

Meg Ryan is back to having what she’s having.

The You’ve Got Mail actress is returning to rom-com territory in Lena Dunham’s Netflix film Good Sex, the streamer announced on X.

The movie, which Dunham is writing and directing, centers on a couple’s therapist played by Natalie Portman, who re-enters the New York dating pool after ending a decade-long relationship. Her dating life gets complicated when she starts seeing two men — one a decade her senior played by Mark Ruffalo, the other in his twenties played by Tucker Pillsbury.

THR reported that Ryan will portray Portman’s therapist in the film. Rashida Jones, whose casting was announced at the same time as Ryan’s, will play the protagonist’s best friend.

The film’s producers include Dunham, Portman, Sophie Mas, and Michael Cohen.

Good Sex marks Ryan’s return to the genre that made her a star. Best known for her lead performances in three films written by Nora Ephron — 1989’s When Harry Met Sally…, 1993’s Sleepless in Seattle, and 1998’s You’ve Got Mail — Ryan dominated American romantic comedies during their massive boom in and around the 1990s. 

The actress’ other rom-com credits include Joe Versus the Volcano, I.Q., French Kiss, Addicted to Love, Kate & Leopold, and In the Land of Women.

Most recently, Ryan co-wrote and directed the 2023 rom-com What Happens Later, in which she also starred opposite David Duchovny. That film was one of just two big-screen projects Ryan has acted in since 2009, the other being her other directorial effort Ithaca.

Good Sex also marks a reunion between Ryan and Ruffalo, who previously starred as lovers in Jane Campion’s dark erotic thriller In the Cut in 2003.

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The film is the latest project in the most productive chapter of Dunham’s career since Girls wrapped in 2017. The multihyphenate entertainer created and executive produced the upcoming series Too Much, which hits Netflix in July. She also wrote, directed, and produced the 2022 indie sex comedy movie Sharp Stick and the 2023 medieval comedy movie Catherine Called Birdy. In front of the camera, Dunham headlined the 2024 tragicomedy film Treasure, which she also produced.