Love Again: Cast, plot and release date of Celine Dion-themed film

The project, starring Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughan, will be released on May 12

Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughan star in Love Again. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Love Again will be released on May 12. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment

The film also marks the acting debut of Celine Dion

Chopra and Nick Jonas in a scene from Love Again

The film is a remake of the 2016 German film SMS fur Dich

Chopra plays Mira, a grief-stricken woman in mourning after her fiance dies in a tragic accident

The plot centres around Mira sending text messages to her dead fiance's phone number

However, the phone number has been reassigned to a man named Rob (Heughan)

The two eventually meet and feel a connection

Celine Dion’s music will be at the forefront of a new romantic drama titled Love Again. It was originally set to be called It’s All Coming Back to Me, the popular track from her 1996 album Falling Into You, before the name switch. The film is a remake of SMS fur Dich, the 2016 German hit directed by and starring Karoline Herfurth.

Filming for the project began in late 2020 in London and wrapped in early 2021. It is written and directed by James C Strouse and will also feature Dion in her acting debut.

Now more details have been revealed about Love Again, including its release date and trailer. Here’s everything you need to know about the coming film.

When will Love Again be released?

The film will be released in cinemas on May 12.

Who stars in the film?

Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughan will play the lead roles in the romantic drama; Dion plays herself. Joining them in supporting roles are Russell Tovey, Steve Oram, Omid Djalili, Sofia Barclay, Lydia West, Arinze Kene and Celia Imrie.

What is Love Again about?

The trailer opens with Chopra as a grief-stricken woman named Mira still in mourning after she loses her fiance in a tragic accident. She starts sending romantic texts to his old mobile phone, but it turns out the number has been reassigned to a man named Rob (Heughan) who is suffering from a similar heartbreak.

The two eventually meet and feel a connection, but can’t seem to just forget their past — until Dion and her music gives them an extra nudge to take a chance on each other. In addition to Dion, the trailer revealed another fun appearance in the film: Chopra's real-life husband Nick Jonas as a potential suitor who her character goes on a date with.

The history behind the song

While Dion’s version of the power ballad is the most famous, there is an interesting backstory to the hit song.

Written by Jim Steinman, it was girl group Pandora’s Box who originally went on to record it first in 1989, although Meat Loaf had reportedly also wanted to record the song for years and include it in his album Bat Out of Hell III.

But Steinman declined, saying he viewed it as a “woman’s song” and even won a court order that prevented Meat Loaf from being able to use it.

After Pandora’s Box, Dion went on to record the song as well for her fourth studio album, Falling Into You. The song peaked at No 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. It was critically acclaimed with Andrew Lloyd Webber reportedly telling Steinman he thought the song was “the greatest love song ever written” and that Dion’s version was “the record of the millennium”.

Eventually, Meat Loaf did record a version as a duet with Marion Raven in 2006. However, in an interview with Billboard magazine, he said he was still bitter that Dion got there before him.

"That was my song. I wanted to record it for Bat II and Jim said, 'Let's wait for Bat III' and I took him at his word. The next thing you know, Celine Dion is recording it."

— A version of this story was first published on April 20, 2022

Scroll through the gallery below to see Celine Dion's style evolution over the years.

Celine Dion, in metallic peak-1980s ruffles, performs at a preliminary competition for the Eurovision Song Contest on February 7, 1988. EPA

Celine Dion, wearing a white suit with power shoulders, performs at the Eurovision Song Contest on April 30, 1988. Rex

Celine Dion, in androgynous suiting, at the 1995 World Music Awards on May 3, 1995 in Monte Carlo. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in a mauve maxi dress, with Smokey Robinson at the Third Annual International Achievement In Arts Awards on September 28, 1997. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in a taffeta skirt and simple tee, at the 25th Annual People's Choice Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on January 10, 1999. Getty Images

Celine Dion, wearing an asymmetric white midi, and Rene Angelil arrive at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 24, 1999. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in a headline-making Christian Dior suit, arrives at the 71st Academy Awards on March 21, 1999. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in an embroidered coat and jeans, promotes her album 'A New Day Has Come' on April 16, 2002 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images

Celine Dion, wearing a chic white skirt suit, is honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 6, 2004, in Los Angeles. EPA

Celine Dion, in a kimono-inspired evening dress, arrives at the 2004 World Music Awards on September 15, 2004, in Las Vegas. EPA

Celine Dion, in a draped James Galanos gown, arrives for the 79th Annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. EPA

Celine Dion, wearing a gunmetal sequinned mini, arrives at the 2007 World Music Awards on November 4, 2007 in Monte Carlo. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in a printed mini and heels, at the 2007 World Music Awards on November 4, 2007 in Monte Carlo. Getty Images

Celine Dion, wearing an embellished LBD, performs on stage at the Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2008. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in a sparkling shift dress and satin blazer, is awarded France's Legion d'Honneur on May 22, 2008. EPA

Celine Dion, in fitted Armani Prive, and Rene Angelil arrive for the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA

Celine Dion, in draped J Mendel, attends Bambi Awards at the Stadthalle Dusseldorf on November 22, 2012 in Germany. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in a leather one-shoulder Mugler dress, at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in sleek Dior, attends the Christian Dior haute couture autumn /winter 2016-2017 at Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2016. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in emerald Zuhair Murad, arrives for the 59th annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on February 12, 2017. EPA

Celine Dion, in baby-blue Christian Siriano, attends Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' premiere in LA on March 2, 2017. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in monochrome Versace, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 1, 2017. EPA

Celine Dion, in voluminous Stephane Rolland, at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegason May 21, 2017. EPA

Celine Dion, in mustard Dior leather, attends the Christian Dior haute couture autumn /winter 2017-2018 show at Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2017. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in Armani separates, attends the Giorgio Armani Prive haute couture spring /summer 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week on January 22, 2019. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in sharp-shouldered Alexandre Vauthier, at Paris Fashion Week on January 22, 2019. EPA

Celine Dion, in tonal Valentino, attends the Valentino haute couture spring / summer 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week on January 23, 2019. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in a statement yellow dress and sneakers, at Paris Fashion Week on January 29, 2019. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in fringed Oscar de la Renta, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2019. EPA

Celine Dion, in hot pink Miu Miu, during Paris Fashion Week on June 29, 2019. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in directional Schiaparelli, at the brand's haute couture autumn / winter 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week on July 1, 2019. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in dramatic-sleeved Alexandre Vauthier, at the brand's autumn /winter 2019 show during Paris Fashion Week on July 2, 2019. EPA

Celine Dion, in plumed Valentino, attends the Valentino haute couture autumn / winter 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2019. Getty Images

Celine Dion, in a slogan tee and deconstructed blazer, during Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2019. Shutterstock

Celine Dion, in cutting-edge Peter Do, seen on the streets of New York on March 7, 2020. Getty Images