Isabelle Fuhrman and Julia Stiles are reuniting for Wish You Were Here, where Fuhrman takes on her first leading role in a romance film. The romantic drama is adapted from the novel by Renée Carlino and follows Charlotte, a woman who has a deeply emotional night with a man, only for his disappearance to lead to a powerful reveal. Prior to leading the cast of the film, Fuhrman found acclaim in the horror genre, leading both Orphan and its prequel First Kill, the latter of which also starred her Wish You Were Here director Julia Stiles.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Stiles elaborated that while filming Orphan during the COVID-19 pandemic, she began adapting the script for Wish You Were Here. Stiles, impressed by Fuhrman’s talent and work ethic on the set of the horror prequel, saw her as the perfect choice for the leading role. This sparked a collaboration that led Fuhrman to accept the part of Charlotte in Stiles’ directorial debut. Check out their full comments below:

Julia Stiles: Isabelle, what a force. I was in the process of adapting the script for Wish You Were Here while we were filming Orphan, and it was during COVID, like, as restrictions were lightening up a little bit. We could go back into work, but we were still all wearing masks. The city we were filming in was on lockdown, so there wasn’t much socializing. So, with all my downtime, I was focused on Wish You Were Here. Sorry to that director. [Laughs] No, Isabelle, I watched her. I was playing her mom, but she was 23, and she was playing an 11-year-old, and I remember watching her every day going, “Oh my god, this girl is such a good actress. This is so convincing.” And she was a workhorse. When you’re the lead in a film, you have to go to work every day, start to finish, and be in every scene, and with something like Wish You Were Here, pour your heart and soul into it. It takes a lot of stamina, and I saw on the set of Orphan that she had so much stamina and dedication that I thought she would be perfect for this part. And I’m so lucky that she responded to it.

Isabelle Fuhrman: Well, we bonded so much making Orphan, because the whole world was shut down, and we were sitting in these tents in the middle of the sound stage, and Julia was the only person I was really able to talk to. We really bonded about so many different things, and she was working on the script at the time. I was so grateful when she sent it to me and was like, “I’d love you to read it and maybe be Charlotte.” I had never actually been offered a role like this, this is my first time playing a lead in a romance film, and I was really honored that she wanted people to see me in the way that she got to know me, not just in the way that people have seen me on screen. She said that to me, and I was like Gabby, I grew up watching Julia, I’m one of her biggest fans, she’s such an icon. What’s crazy is, when you meet her, she’s so normal. I don’t think she realizes how many people look up to her, have grown up watching her, and just literally adore her.

She’s so extremely humble, and getting to work with her in this capacity was such a gift. Every single day. She really thrives behind the camera, too. She’s an incredible actress, but what I loved was the way that she would find ways to play with lines. She would come and give us notes like, “Oh, I have an idea. Oh, I have this.” Seeing how excited she got about every single aspect of making this movie, from the lines in the script to where the camera was positioned, to things that we could add to make it more fun, like when Gabby and I were working in that restaurant. There were so many things we were messing with, like those flags, that slow-motion sH๏τ. I remember I filmed that on my phone, and she was like, “We gotta film something like that!” It felt like a really collaborative, playful experience. And I know throughout all of post-production, she’s really just loved every single moment of it. So, I know that this is her first, but this is definitely not going to be her last directorial film. She really is a fantastic director, one of my favorites I’ve ever worked with. I feel very lucky that she chose me to be the lead of her first film.

What Wish You Were Here Means For Stiles & Fuhrman’s Careers

Fuhrman Expands Beyond The Horror Genre

For Fuhrman, Wish You Were Here marks a turning point in her career. Known for her role as Esther, Fuhrman’s performance in Orphan and Orphan: First Kill became her breakout roles for her eerie portrayal of Esther, and even going as far as portraying the 8-year-old character when she was 24. Additionally, she has also participated in such thriller and sci-fi films as The Hunger Games (2012) and The Novice (2021). However, Wish You Were Here allows her to explore the romantic-drama genre and reach a different audience.

Stiles, meanwhile, is stepping into the world of directing after years of establishing herself as a successful actor. Previously, she has starred in such films as 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) and Silver Linings Playbook (2012), but is also regarded as a seasoned horror star. However, as a director, her decision to cast Fuhrman for the lead role speaks to the trust she has in her acting abilities. Her active role behind the camera, as described by Fuhrman, shows that Stiles has a strong creative vision, making her debut as a director a significant career milestone.

Our Take Stiles & Furhman’s Reunion In Wish You Were Here

A New Path Emerges For Them Both

The collaboration between Isabelle Fuhrman and Julia Stiles is an exciting development in both of their careers. Stiles’ directorial debut has added an intriguing layer to her established acting career, while Fuhrman’s developing role as Charlotte in Wish You Were Here promises to showcase her versatility beyond her horror notoriety. Their mutual respect and history together make this reunion feel both natural and remarkable, and Wish You Were Here’s potential to hone in both of their talents is worth anticipating.