The Threesome (2025), directed by Chad Hartigan and written by Ethan Ogilby, is a romantic comedy-drama that explores the messy, tender terrain of desire and emotional accountability.

The film was inspired by writer Ethan Ogilby’s desire to explore romantic comedy through a more grounded, emotionally messy lens—one that reflects the complexities of modern relationships rather than idealised fantasy.

In interviews, director Chad Hartigan described the project as a response to the “rom-com renaissance,” noting that while many recent films lean into wish-fulfilment, The Threesome aims to depict romance with sophistication, consequence, and realism.

The script presented an opportunity to examine how intimacy, insecurity, and emotional maturity collide when fantasy meets fallout. Ogilby, known for his work on The Simpsons, infused the story with sharp wit and character-driven vulnerability, while Hartigan—whose previous films like Little Fish and Morris from America blend heart with nuance—was drawn to the challenge of portraying a threesome not as titillation, but as a catalyst for growth.

Together, they crafted a film that turns a provocative premise into a meditation on connection, accountability, and the awkward beauty of becoming.

The story follows Connor, a kind and unassuming young man, whose long-held crush on Olivia finally blossoms, only to be complicated by the unexpected presence of Jenny, a sweet and alluring stranger. What begins as a fantasy encounter quickly unravels into a journey of consequence, as all three characters must navigate the emotional fallout and confront the realities of adulthood.

With standout performances from Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King, and Ruby Cruz, the film balances screwball charm with introspective depth, offering a modern twist on romantic entanglement.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

The romantic comedy is finally back! God, we were really sweating it there for a while, weren’t we? Absolutely crazy that we could ever turn our back on watching charming actors spar and fall in love with each other. That’s what the movie business was built on from day one! It’s been so heartening to see the renaissance in both the theatrical and streaming worlds for these films, but I can’t help but feel there’s still something missing. Romcoms tend to deal in wish fulfilment, skirting the edge of fantasy to show us an idealised version of love or romance, but back in the 1980s and 90s, iconic directors were finding ways to play in the genre in more grounded and elevated ways. I’m thinking of Mike Nichols (Working Girl), Cameron Crowe (Say Anything, Jerry Maguire) and James L. Brooks (Broadcast News and As Good As It Gets) just to name a few.

What’s the modern-day equivalent of those? Films that are genuinely romantic and funny, but populated with messy characters and complicated dynamics, dealing with grown-up issues and situations. A touch of melancholy to go with the sentimental. Now I’m not saying I’m anywhere in the same league as those greats, but when I first read Ethan Ogilby’s script for The Threesome, I saw my opportunity to attempt that type of romcom. Something that can tip its hat to the wholesome golden age while adding a distinctly contemporary sense of humour and point of view. It also didn’t hurt that I got the script in summer 2020, a few months deep into a global lockdown that had me retreating to all of my favourite comfort movies to get me through the uncertain days and nights. Then I was convinced that there may be nothing more noble in cinema than giving an audience an enjoyable 90 minutes to forget their problems (I still might be convinced of this).

Over the course of my career, I’ve tried to bounce around different genres and stories, but they always seem to retain one common denominator – characters that are simply trying their best to do the right thing. I find there to be such a beautiful dignity to it and always feels refreshing amongst a sea of films building conflict around bad faith actors. It’s a testament to Ethan that he’s able to mine so much friction from these characters while never judging any of them, and offering genuine surprises where others might have opted for standard beats. I felt like I had an idea of what I was going to be getting from a movie called The Threesome and then was given something much more sophisticated, tender and nuanced.

I hope to have translated that experience to the audience. I hope they are as enamored with the limitless talent of Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King and Ruby Cruz as I am. I hope they are as hungry for this type of film as I am. And I hope that maybe just one person throws it on for a rewatch twenty years from now when times are tough for them.

– Chad Hartigan

Chad Hartigan | Director

Chad Hartigan was born in Nicosia, Cyprus and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking. His first feature as writer/director, LUKE AND BRIE ARE ON A FIRST DATE premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival in 2008 and was remade for Latin American audiences in 2013 as LUNA EN LEO, which earned a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the Argentinian Oscars. His second feature, THIS IS MARTIN BONNER premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best of NEXT and went on to also win the John Cassavetes Award at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards. His third feature, MORRIS FROM AMERICA premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and a Special Jury Prize for Acting. It was released by A24, garnering nominations at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the Gotham Awards and a special citation by the National Board of Review. His fourth feature, LITTLE FISH, a romance set during a fictional pandemic, was ironically delayed due to a very real pandemic and released by IFC Films in 2021 to critical acclaim. THE THREESOME is his fifth feature.

Ethan Ogilby | Writer

THE THREESOME is Ethan Ogilby’s first produced screenplay. And, no, it is not based on a true story. He also sold a pilot to ABC Studios that he co-wrote with his wife, who works as a labor & delivery nurse, and the script is inspired by her experiences on that job. Despite Ruben Fleischer being attached to direct and Dave Bernard producing, that show has yet to reach the promised land. Ethan is also a onetime Emmy winner and three-time nominee for his producing work on the Netflix docuseries REMASTERED. Technically it’s a News & Documentary Emmy, but plenty of people like Ethan’s mom know that’s “actually the best kind.” He hails from small town Maine, studied writing at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and is a father to twin toddlers. He is represented by CAA and Lichter, Grossman.