The True Story Behind the Film Voicemails for Isabelle

Voicemails for Isabelle, upon its release on Netflix, has become a topic of discussion not only for its romantic story but also for its true inspiration. Writer and director Leah McKendrick revealed that the idea for the film originated years ago during a comedy show. In the film, Zoey Deutch plays Jill, a character who continues to leave voicemails on her sister Isabelle’s old phone number after her death. However, the number eventually passes to Wes, a real estate agent played by Nick Robinson.

Voicemails for Isabelle Was Born from a Personal Idea

In an interview with People, Leah McKendrick said the basic idea for the film came to her over seven years ago. A joke about deceased relatives and unanswered phone calls at a comedy show led the director to reflect on people in her own life. McKendrick explained that she wouldn’t expect her father to call her if he died because he didn’t call her much even when he was alive. But when she thought the same thing about her sister, a completely different feeling emerged.

The director said he realized he wouldn’t stop searching for his sister even if she died. This thought later formed the emotional basis of the Jill character in the film. When McKendrick’s sister moved to New York for college, the director began leaving her long, intimate voicemails. In these messages, she recounted the most personal parts of her life, from bad dates to her struggles to make it in Hollywood.

Looking back, McKendrick realized these voicemails revealed a completely unfiltered version of herself that very few people had ever seen. The idea of ​​Wes falling in love with Jill before they even meet in person in Voicemails for Isabelle stemmed from this. According to the director, someone falling in love with your most vulnerable and honest self is what makes the story more real and emotional.

In the film, Deutch and Robinson are joined by Nick Offerman, Lukas Gage, Harry Shum Jr., Megan Danso, Gil Bellows, Toby Sandeman, and Ciara Bravo as Isabelle. With a rating of 84% from critics and 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, the film stands out for its balanced treatment of romance and grief. Despite its unconventional premise, Voicemails for Isabelle captures the warmth of classic romantic comedies from a more melancholic perspective thanks to its personal connections.

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