Hannah Dodd Cast in Romantic Drama "Miss You Forever, Zara Drake"
Hannah Dodd has been cast in Miss You Forever, Zara Drake, a romantic drama that will be her first lead role in a film. Variety reported the casting on 23 October 2026.
The film is also a debut behind the camera. Lucas Jones wrote, directed and produced it, and it marks his first feature as a director. He will also appear on screen, co-leading the film alongside Dodd.
Many viewers know Dodd from Netflix's period drama Bridgerton, where she played Francesca. A lead role means she is the central figure the story follows, which is a step up from the supporting parts that often make up an early screen career. Her casting is the main new name attached to the project so far.
The production is set to shoot in the United Kingdom and the United States in spring 2027. That gives the team roughly six months from this announcement to the first day of filming, a window used for locking in locations, schedules and crew.
Jones is producing the film with Eli Banfield for Maryland Films. A producer oversees the practical side of a movie, from money and schedules to hiring. Richard Holmes has been named executive producer, a credit usually given to someone who helps secure financing or provides oversight rather than running the day-to-day shoot.
What stands out is how early the team is coming together. Casting this far ahead of filming is common for independent dramas, where the lead performers and key creative people are often confirmed well before cameras roll. For Dodd, the film is a chance to carry a story in a role she has not yet had on her résumé, and for Jones, it is a first chance to show his directing on a feature-length project.
No release date or distributor was named in the announcement. The next visible steps will be the start of filming in spring 2027, and any further casting or financing news that follows.
