Rachel Zegler and Marisa Tomei are stepping into a mother-daughter dynamic unlike anything either has played before, and the first images from their upcoming comedy drama She Gets It From Me have just surfaced. The film, which pairs Zegler’s Nicky with Tomei’s Charlotte - a pill-popping, ex-punk rocker who turns out to be Nicky’s long-lost birth mother - promises a chaotic road to reconciliation. According to the production’s official synopsis, the story kicks off at Nicky’s engagement celebration, where the discovery of Charlotte’s existence upends the festivities. What follows is an “anarchic” journey as the two women try to bridge decades of absence, missed milestones, and raw emotional baggage.
The project is being directed by Julia von Heinz, the German filmmaker known for her piercing character studies and unflinching social observations. Von Heinz made her international mark with films like Hanna's Journey and And Tomorrow the Entire World, the latter earning critical praise for its tense, morally complex portrait of anti-fascist activism. Here, she steps into a lighter but no less intricate register - a balance of comedy and drama that hinges on the chemistry between her two leads. Tomei, an Oscar winner for My Cousin Vinny, has long thrived in roles that blend sharp wit with deep vulnerability, and Charlotte looks to be another showcase for that range. Zegler, who broke through with West Side Story and has since tackled everything from Shazam! Fury of the Gods to the upcoming Snow White, brings a youthful energy that should contrast nicely with Tomei’s seasoned, messy defiance.
The first look at the film leans into the visual contrast between the two characters. Zegler’s Nicky appears polished, presumably caught in the middle of a life that’s supposed to be coming together - engagement, stability, a future that makes sense. Tomei’s Charlotte, by contrast, looks frayed at the edges, a remnant of a rock-and-roll past that clearly didn’t age into quiet respectability. Those differences become the engine of the narrative, with the celebration serving as detonation point rather than a warm family gathering.
Supporting cast members round out the world around this central pair. Ed Helms steps in as Albery, whose relationship to Nicky or Charlotte remains under wraps, but Helms’ comic timing suggests he may be the voice of reason - or just another source of friction. Nat Wolff plays John, while Laith Nakli takes on Rez, both roles unverified in detail but part of the larger ensemble that writer-director von Heinz has assembled. The screenplay’s origins are likewise still under wraps, though the premise suggests a road-movie structure that allows for episodic encounters and tonal swings.
The film’s title, She Gets It From Me, points to a core thesis about inheritance - not just of physical traits or talents, but of behaviors, coping mechanisms, and emotional patterns. Nicky’s shock at discovering Charlotte might have less to do with learning who her mother is and more with recognizing parts of herself she never wanted to admit were inherited. That self-recognition is classic comedy-drama territory, but von Heinz’s track record suggests she’ll push past easy sentiment. Her previous work has shown a willingness to sit with discomfort, to let characters be unlikable and complicated without punishing them for it.
The film’s release strategy has not been announced, and its runtime remains unknown. TMDb currently lists no user ratings, unsurprising given that the project is still early in its promotional cycle. But the casting alone has generated buzz, particularly because the pairing feels fresh - a veteran character actress at the peak of her powers next to a young star who is actively redefining what a leading lady can be in this decade. That generational tension, both on-screen and in the casting itself, gives She Gets It From Me a built-in resonance.
For Tomei, the role continues a pattern of playing women who are often written off but never count out - fierce, flawed, and fiercely alive. For Zegler, it’s a chance to show range beyond the musical and fantasy genres that have defined her rise. Their scenes together will be the test, and if the first look is any indication, von Heinz is giving them plenty of space to play.
More details are expected as the film moves toward its eventual release, whether that lands in theaters, on streaming, or a hybrid slate. For now, the early images tease a story about family that isn’t about blood so much as the messy, often funny work of choosing each other anyway. She Gets It From Me may center on an unusual reunion, but its questions are universal: Can we accept the parts of ourselves we didn’t choose? And can we forgive the people who gave them to us?
Source: Variety
