‘Voicemails for Isabelle’ is a new romantic comedy film that has landed on the streaming platform on June 19, 2026. Wrote and directed Leah McKendrickmovie stars Joey Dutch And Nick Robinson. The story follows Jill, a young woman who copes with her sister’s death by leaving voicemails for her deceased sibling, unaware that the phone number has been reassigned to a stranger who begins to fall in love with her through the messages.
What is ‘Voicemail for Isabelle’?
According to Netflix’s Tudum, Jill, a young woman, sends voice messages to her dying sister, telling her about her chaotic life in San Francisco. Unwittingly, a mysterious Austin real estate agent begins receiving these confessions. Jill and her sister Isabel shared a close bond; Isabelle dealt with cystic fibrosis from a young age. They communicate regularly via voicemail, a new-age way of staying connected.
Zoey Deutch stars as Jill, a young woman who deals with her sister’s death by leaving heartwarming voicemail messages. Photo Credit: (Instagram)
What director Leah McKendrick says about her creative vision
According to IndieWire, director Leah McKendrick discussed her approach. McKendrick expressed, “I’ve learned that it doesn’t serve me endlessly, blindly loyal to a script that’s not going to get made. I can either die on this mountain with this script, or I can make a movie.”McKendrick also explains how the male lead falls for the hero. “He shows such courage [from Jill]” says McKendrick. “That authenticity in someone so deeply human, who wouldn’t fall in love?”McKendrick discusses the core of the film. “When I first wrote it,” says McKendrick [the script]I hadn’t found my person, and so it was more about belonging and imagining what it might be like to find true love in romantic love. My sister is alive and well, she’s healthy, but it was really moving that she wanted to write a love letter to my soulmate and sisterhood.”
Voicemail device
Director McKendrick explained why the voicemails were central to the story. “Voicemails cannot be edited or rewritten,” McKendrick said. “They’re usually messy, awkward, vague — sometimes confessional. Like streams of consciousness, they always go off the rails a little.”
Joey Deitch and Nick Robinson lead the romantic comedy, which explores grief, brotherhood and unexpected love. Photo Credit: (Instagram)
Cast and creative team
The cast includes Zoe Deitch as Jill and Nick Robinson as mysterious real estate agent Wes, along with actors Nick Offerman, Lucas Gage, Harry Shum Jr., and Ciara Bravo as Isabelle.Writer-director Leah McKendrick points to Deutsch’s big brown eyes and her singular range to explain what makes her “endlessly lovable”.
The cast of ‘Voicemail for Isabelle’ includes Zoe Deitch, Nick Robinson, Nick Offerman, Lucas Gage, Harry Shum Jr. and Ciara Bravo. Image Credit (Instagram)
McKendrick discusses his experience working with the cast. “If this was middle school, Lucas and Joey would have to be separated,” McKendrick said. They make each other laugh uncontrollably.”
Rom-com tradition
According to Deadline, the film follows in the footsteps of romantic comedies that have used communication as their central device, from letters in ‘The Shop Around the Corner’ (1940) to emails in ‘You’ve Got Mail’ (1998) to texts in ‘Love Again’ (2023).‘Voicemail for Isabelle’ is available for streaming on Netflix from June 19, 2026.
