“This is my home. New York is my home,” Jamaica-born Natasha Kingsley (Yara Shahidi) pleads in the trailer for “The Sun Is Also a Star.” But it doesn’t matter: she’s still informed that her family’s deportation has been finalized. Natasha will have to leave the country the following day.
As she walks home listening to music, Natasha thinks about the universe, its creation, and where she belongs. Romance is, understandably, the last thing on her mind. Yet it finds her, or rather Daniel Bae (Charles Melton) does. He pulls her out of the path of an oncoming car, saving her life. Their chemistry is immediate. Daniel tells Natasha he can get her to fall in love with him if she gives him a day. “An hour,” Natasha retorts.
Natasha is undeniably drawn to Daniel and, inconveniently, begins to develop feelings for him. However, the clock is ticking and she knows that — even if they do actually fall in love — it won’t work out. She only has one day to spend with him. “The choice we make, the path we choose, we don’t have forever,” Natasha muses.
Based on Nicola Yoon’s bestselling YA novel,” “The Sun Is Also a Star” is directed by Ry Russo-Young (“Before I Fall”) and penned by Tracy Oliver (“Girls Trip”).
Shahidi stars in “Black-ish” spin-off “Grown-ish.” The college-set comedy airs Wednesdays on Freeform. “The Fosters” and “Scandal” are among the Essence Black Women in Hollywood awardee’s other credits. She made her directorial debut last year with short film “X.”
Stella Meghie helmed the film adaptation of another Yoon novel, 2017’s “Everything, Everything.”
“The Sun Is Also a Star” opens May 17.
