| Irish Wish | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Janeen Damian |
| Written by | Kirsten Hansen |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Lindsay Lohan |
| Cinematography | Graham Robbins |
| Edited by | Scott Hill |
| Music by | Nathan Lanier |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Irish Wish is a 2024 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Janeen Damian and written by Kirsten Hansen. The film stars Lindsay Lohan and marks her second consecutive project with Netflix, Damian and Damian's husband Michael Damian, who served as a producer alongside Brad Krevoy. Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos, Ayesha Curry, Elizabeth Tan and Jane Seymour co-star in supporting roles.
The plot follows a book editor, portrayed by Lohan, whose dream guy is days away from marrying her best friend in Ireland when a spontaneous wish made on an ancient stone magically alters her fate and turns her into the bride.
The film was officially announced in September 2022 and began production in Ireland that same month. It was released on March 15, 2024, on Netflix.
Plot[edit]
Maddie Kelly has been secretly in love with the author who she's been editing over the past year, Paul Kennedy. She talks with her mother about it, but not even her best friends Emma and Heather know. Just before Maddie's about to tell him about her feelings, Paul asks her to help him write his next novel rather than profess his feelings as she'd hoped. Directly afterwards he meets Emma, and it's soon apparent they are mutually interested.
Three months later, the three childhood friends are flying with Paul to his Irish home so he and Emma can get married. Maddie puts her feelings aside to be a bridesmaid with Heather. At luggage reclaim, Maddie argues with an Englishman over his bag as it's identical to hers. As she's stuck at the lost luggage office, she insists that they go on without her. Maddie's only option to get to the Kennedys is by bus, where she coincides with the man from the baggage reclaim who is here as a photographer and they exchange more banter before her arrival at Kennedy House.
The three friends, Paul and his brother Kory go to a lake for a picnic. They decide to take out two rowboats, but Maddie stays behind, feeling like a fifth wheel. She comes across a wishing bench, and a fairy appears as she's saying she wishes Paul was marrying her. After a strong wind blows though, Maddie falls back, only to wake up as the bride-to-be. With her dream seeming to come true, she starts to doubt things. First, a bike ride Paul proposes to her doesn't work as she isn't so skilled, so Emma takes her place. Then Maddie is expected to wear an heirloom wedding dress rather than the one she brought.
Hearing and seeing the fairy, Maddie chases after her and falls into the Triumph TR convertible of James Thomas, the photographer she'd met in the airport and bus. However, as the fairy had altered events, he has no recollection of meeting although she does. As the wedding photographer has quit, Paul's mother happily thanks Maddie for finding him as a replacement. Having just discovered the sheep-shearing event he was meant to shoot got cancelled, he accepts.
That night, as Paul gets into bed with Maddie after she's sound asleep, when he puts his hand on her, it startles her so she punches him. As he's not fully recovered by morning, she goes with James alone to seek picturesque spots for the wedding photos. On their return to the Kennedys, a tree goes down from the storm, so Maddie and James seek shelter in a nearby pub. They spend the evening together playing darts, having a pint and dancing. They get back just in time for the rehearsal, at which the fairy, who is revealed to be Saint Brigid, startles Maddie.
Maddie soon realizes that her real soulmate isn't Paul but James. On the morning of the wedding, he can tell she is sad, but she doesn't admit it. When Maddie tells the priest about her wish to Saint Brigid he says she's mischievous, not giving people what they want, but what they need. Maddie sees Emma before the ceremony and confirms her feelings for Paul, then promises to try to fix it. When it's her turn to walk down the aisle, she walks in normal clothes, then suggest the wedding not go on as they're not in love. Paul jumps James and they fight, as he saw them talking earlier on the grounds, so blames him for her change of heart.
James abruptly leaves, and Maddie follows. He feels badly for being partly to blame for what happened. They kiss, but due to the circumstances he drives off. Maddie drives back to the wishing bench and asks Saint Brigid to take back her wish, so time rewinds again. Paul and Emma marry, after the reception Maddie tells him she won't be editing his books without being added as co-wrìter. She then finds James near the pub and now he remembers her from the airport and bus, so they are able to restart.
Cast[edit]
- Lindsay Lohan as Madeline "Maddie" Kelly
- Ed Speleers as James Thomas
- Alexander Vlahos as Paul Kennedy
- Ayesha Curry as Heather
- Elizabeth Tan as Emma Taylor
- Jane Seymour as Rosemary Kelly
- Jacinta Mulcahy as Olivia Kennedy
- Matty McCabe as Kory Kennedy
- Dawn Bradfield as Saint Brigid
- Maurice Byrne as Sean Kennedy
- James Rottger as Tom O'Callaghan
- Aidan Jordan as Father Callahan
- Dakota Lohan as Finn
- Tim Landers as Murphy
- Rachel Benaissa as Allegra
- Rodrigo Ternevoy as Book Clerk
- Steve Hartland as Liam
- Carl Shaaban as Jay
- Vincent Moran as Bus Driver
- Charlie Hughes as Immigration Officer
Production[edit]
After returning to acting with the holiday romcom Falling for Christmas, Netflix announced in March 2022 that they would continue to work with Lindsay Lohan through a partnership where she would star in two new films.[2] In May 2022, Lohan talked to Forbes about the deal:[3]
In August 2022, local media reported Lohan would be filming a new movie titled Irish Wish in multiple locations across Ireland the following month.[4] Set in modern day Ireland, Lohan would be playing the lead role and the movie was expected to be released on Netflix in the following year.[5] A casting call for a body double from the production company then revealed principal photography for the film would be taking place in Dublin, Wicklow and Westport, from September 5 to October 14, 2022.[6] On September 1, 2022, Netflix officially announced the movie as part of their two-picture creative partnership with Lohan, and revealed its premise.Irish Wish sees Lohan reteaming with filmmaker Janeen Damian, who she previously worked with on Falling for Christmas.[9] Damian was set to direct the screenplay, which was written by Kirsten Hansen. Motion Picture Corporation of America's Brad Krevoy and Riviera Films' Michael Damian would be producing, while Hansen, Amanda Phillips, Jimmy Townsend and Vince Balzano served as executive producers.[10] On September 14, it was announced that Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos, Ayesha Curry, Elizabeth Tan and Jane Seymour had joined the cast.[11] In November 2022, Seymour revealed on The Late Late Show she would be playing Lohan's character's mother in the film.[12]
Lohan talked about her character saying: "She's a bit of a bookworm. She's a nerd, which I loved playing. But she's a sweetheart. She's kind of naive, and she keeps it that way because her head is always focused on writing and stuff," and revealed her brother Dakota would also be appearing in Irish Wish.[13] Lohan stated Maddie's journey to independence and self-love resonated deeply with Lohan. Later that month, Michael and Janeen Damian said they had begun the editing process. They stated Lohan would be doing more physical comedy in the film and did some of her own stunts. Damian said the film "takes place in the summer, it's a love letter to Ireland. It has a lot of really fun physical comedy but also a lot of heart and a little bit of magic [...] Because we had worked together on Falling for Christmas we really could play to [Lohan's] strengths when we were putting this project together." He continued, "It's a 'be careful what you wish for' story. Sometimes you may not get what you want but you get what you need."[20] On February 1, 2024, Netflix shared the first promotional picture while announcing its release date.[21] In another first look preview for Tudum, Lohan described it as a "nice story of luck and love and confidence."[22] On February 20, the movie's official trailer was released.[23]
Scenic filming took place at Lough Tay, the Cliffs of Moher, Westport's town square, and the Clarence Hotel. Killruddery House was the film location of the "Kennedy House" in the movie, the location of many of the garden scenes including the lily pond and apple orchard, and the orangery was the location of the wedding scenes.[24]
