Charli XCX’s New Movie Trailer Teases a Volcanic Twist on Romance

Charli XCX is having a bit of a moment, literally, on the big screen. Her A24 mockumentary, The Moment, went wide in theaters over the weekend and built off a record-breaking start as a limited release to outperform lingering Oscar contenders like Marty Supreme and Hamnet at the box office. The film itself satirized and capitalized on the momentum of Brat Summer, following the pop icon in the run-up to her arena tour debut after a culture-defining breakout season thanks to her smash hit album. Now, however, she’s already gearing up for her next stint on the big screen in April, which will focus less on her identity as a superstar and more on romance.

1-2 Special released the first trailer for her new film, Erupcja, a fiery drama about a luxurious getaway between a couple that quite literally erupts into chaos. Charli plays Bethany, who finds herself trapped in Warsaw, Poland, with her soon-to-be fiancé, Rob (Will Madden), after the eruption of Mount Etna keeps their flight home grounded. The unexpected event leaves Bethany questioning things, despite having what looks like a loving relationship on the surface. In the footage, she and Rob appear to have a strong bond, learning certain phrases like “You’re welcome” in Polish and reminiscing about how romantic and beautiful Warsaw can be. However, knowing that he’s about to propose, she opts to meet with an old friend to catch up, party like old times, and express her fears about committing to him. While he’s “nice,” she notes that, with Rob, “the Earth doesn’t shake,” and she’s not certain that’s what she wants for the rest of her life.

Like the volcano itself, the trailer builds towards an eruption of emotions with a montage of scenes of a worried Rob and an unsure Bethany moving through lofts, clubs, and back alleys while trying to get a grip on her sense of self. There always seems to be a volcano going off wherever they go, and, after talking with her friends, she takes it as a sign that maybe she needs to shake things up. The tension and drama will only keep bubbling to the surface until they untangle the emotional web between them and finally confront what they both need. Lena Góra gets much of the spotlight alongside Charli and Madden, with Jeremy O. Harris rounding out the main cast.

‘Erupcja’ Has Already Received an Eruption of Praise From Critics

At the helm of Erupcja is indie director Pete Ohs, who previously directed last year’s The True Beauty of Being Bitten By a Tick, which featured Harris, and Love and Work, which starred Madden. He also co-wrote the screenplay with both Charli XCX and Góra and produced the film with the pop star alongside Harris, Luke Arreguin, Josh Godfrey, Malia Paul, Alexandra Tynion, Olivia Tyson, Will Westwater, and Cham Zhao. Unlike The Moment, which debuted to more mixed reviews, the romantic drama earned a more favorable reception from critics upon its Toronto International Film Festival debut, earning an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. For all the tension between Bethany and Rob, it’s been hailed as another chill hangout film from Ohs that shows a different side of Charli XCX’s talents as an actor.

Erupcja is set to premiere in theaters on April 17. Check out the trailer in the player above.