Afterlife rom-com 'Eternity' asks existential questions

Actors Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller say their new movie "Eternity" combines comedy, romance and big philosophical questions.

The movie is set in the afterlife, where people revert to the age at which they were at their happiest and have one week to choose their final destination.

Teller and Olsen play older married couple Larry and Joan Cutler, who upon their arrival are shocked to meet Joan's first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died in the Korean War and has been waiting for her ever since. In addition to choosing her eternity, Joan must also pick who to share it with.

"It makes people laugh, but it's surprisingly emotional because it's a sincere film," Olsen said at the movie's London premiere on Monday. "I think it makes us all reflect differently, whether it's about people we've lost or people we hope to be reunited with, or how we even analyse our personal relationships to different types of love."

Teller said: "Death is something that's inevitable and this film is a really clever way to look at it.

"I certainly don't think my character thought he'd be in a competition, a love triangle, for his wife."

The Top Gun: Maverick and Whiplash star said his performance was inspired by his own grandparents, who were married for six decades. His grandfather passed away last year. "My grandfather was a marine back in the day, but he also was very sensitive to a woman's needs. My grandma never carried her own bag, never opened her own door. He was a great role model for me," Teller said.

Directed and co-written by David Freyne, the A24 film features an endless offer of happily-ever-afters. New arrivals face an array of ads and savvy salespeople touting realms ranging from Beach World, Food World and Workout World to Man Free World and Infantilisation World. There is one caveat: the one-time choice is final.

Helping the trio navigate their transitions are afterlife coordinators Anna and Ryan, played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph and John Early.

"When we were making it with the cast, we really reflected on what made us happy and who is important in our lives," said Freyne. "Even though it's set in the afterlife, it's less about death and more about life to me."

Eternity is out in theatres from November 26.