By Jennifer Lopez is stepping back into romantic comedy territory — and she’s making sure everyone knows it. The actress and producer, 56, officially announced her return to the genre with Office Romance, an upcoming Netflix film co-written by and starring Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein. Fans are already buzzing, and for good reason.
Jennifer Lopez Declares Her ‘RomCom Era’ Is Back
On April 10, 2026, Jennifer Lopez took to Instagram to share a carousel of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos from her 2002 hit Maid in Manhattan. The images — captured by photographer Barry Wetcher — showed Lopez alongside co-stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and the late Bob Hoskins and Natasha Richardson.
Her caption left little ambiguity about where she stands creatively right now. “So many feelings! Such wonderful memories!” she wrote. “And now with Office Romance, I am back in my RomCom era. It’s OUR Happy Era!!!”
The post sent fans into a frenzy. Maid in Manhattan remains one of the most beloved romantic comedies of the early 2000s, and Lopez’s nostalgia-fueled announcement served as the perfect launchpad for her newest project.
What Is Office Romance About?
Office Romance is a Netflix romantic comedy directed by Ol Parker, the filmmaker behind Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. The film centers on a workplace love story and stars Jennifer Lopez opposite Brett Goldstein as her onscreen love interest.
Details about the plot remain largely under wraps, but Lopez has hinted at its tone — and it’s not what audiences might expect from her previous rom-coms. The film is expected to debut on Netflix this summer, making it one of the platform’s more anticipated releases of the season.
Brett Goldstein Co-Wrote and Stars in the Film
Brett Goldstein, best known for playing fan-favorite Roy Kent on Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, brings considerable creative weight to Office Romance. Goldstein, 45, co-wrote the screenplay alongside Joe Kelly, giving the film an edge rooted in sharp, character-driven writing.
His dual role — both writer and lead actor — signals that Office Romance has ambitions beyond a typical studio rom-com. Goldstein’s comedic sensibility is well-established, and pairing it with Jennifer Lopez‘s proven genre expertise creates an intriguing combination on paper.
A Stacked Supporting Cast
Beyond the two leads, Office Romance boasts an impressive ensemble. The supporting cast includes:
- Betty Gilpin (GLOW, The Hunt)
- Tony Hale (Veep, Arrested Development)
- Amy Sedaris (Bojack Horseman, At Home with Amy Sedaris)
- Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica, Selena)
The inclusion of Edward James Olmos is particularly noteworthy. Olmos previously played Jennifer Lopez‘s father in the 1997 biopic Selena — making their Office Romance reunion a full-circle moment nearly 28 years in the making.
This Is Not Your Typical JLo Rom-Com
Lopez herself has been candid about what sets Office Romance apart from her earlier romantic comedies. Speaking on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen last October, she described the film as having an edge her previous genre entries lacked.
She compared it in spirit to Knocked Up and There’s Something About Mary — both R-rated comedies known for their irreverent, adult humor. For long-time Jennifer Lopez fans accustomed to the warmth of The Wedding Planner or Maid in Manhattan, that’s a meaningful creative shift.
The film is produced by Lopez herself, which suggests the tonal direction was a deliberate creative choice rather than a studio imposition. She’s not just the star — she’s shaping the project from the ground up.
Jennifer Lopez’s Rom-Com Legacy
To understand why this moment matters, it helps to trace Jennifer Lopez‘s history with the romantic comedy genre. Her run in the early 2000s was prolific:
- The Wedding Planner (2001)
- Maid in Manhattan (2002)
- Gigli (2003)
- Jersey Girl (2004)
- Monster-in-Law (2005)
That run made Lopez one of the defining rom-com actresses of her era. She stepped away from the genre for much of the 2010s before returning with Marry Me and Shotgun Wedding, both released in 2022.
In the day before the Office Romance announcement, Lopez also shared a separate Instagram tribute to her Maid in Manhattan character, Marisa Ventura. “Twenty-something years later and I still think about Marisa Ventura,” she wrote. “A single mom who moved through marble lobbies and thread-count sheets that weren’t hers… but carried herself like they could be.”
That kind of reflective post — clearly timed ahead of a new project — shows Lopez leaning into her legacy with intention. She’s not just revisiting a genre; she’s reclaiming it.
When and Where to Watch Office Romance
Office Romance is set to debut on Netflix this summer. No official release date has been confirmed as of April 2026, but Netflix typically drops major summer titles between June and August.
Jennifer Lopez has kept herself busy heading into the release. She starred in Kiss of the Spider Woman in 2024, made an uncredited cameo in Anaconda, and is also attached to the upcoming thriller The Last Mrs. Parrish. Her return to rom-com territory with Office Romance represents just one piece of an active and varied slate.
For fans who have followed Lopez’s career since Selena and Out of Sight, the combination of her established charm, a sharp script from Goldstein and Kelly, and Netflix’s global platform makes Office Romance one of the summer’s most anticipated streaming releases.
Whether the film lives up to the Maid in Manhattan nostalgia Lopez is deliberately invoking remains to be seen. But the early signals — an experienced director, a talented co-lead, and a star who is clearly invested — suggest Office Romance has the ingredients to deliver.
Keep an eye on Netflix’s summer lineup for the official premiere date. Jennifer Lopez‘s rom-com era, by her own declaration, is officially back.
Have a favorite Jennifer Lopez rom-com? Drop it in the comments — and follow us for all the latest entertainment updates as Office Romance’s premiere date approaches.
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