Rob Reiner’s influence reaches far beyond his own work. “Eternity” director David Freyne told The Post that the late filmmaker’s catalog will stay in his memory forever. “He’s an icon to me,” Freyne said, adding that even people who aren’t in the business have likely watched one of Reiner’s classics.
“Obviously ‘When Harry Met Sally’ is the greatest romantic comedy of all time. ‘Spinal Tap.’ ‘Misery.’ Just the breadth of his output was so extraordinary.”
The filmmaker also pointed out a kindness that resonated with him: “I really love that there’s a real kindness to his work that I really respond to.” He went on to describe the humanity at the core of Reiner’s legacy and the tragedy of his loss, noting that his contributions will endure beyond cinema.
In tribute, Freyne revisited the beloved 1989 rom‑com, recalling, “I watched ‘When Harry Met Sally’ last night—just because I felt like I had to. He’ll be deeply, deeply missed.”
Reiner and his wife, Michele, were discovered stabbed to death in their Brentwood, California home on Sunday. Their son Nick has been taken into custody and is currently on suicide watch at Twin Towers Correctional Facility, held without bail.
Meanwhile, Freyne is moving forward with his newest project, the romantic comedy “Eternity.” The film follows Joann (Elizabeth Olsen) in an afterlife setting, where she must choose between her late husband Larry (Miles Teller) and her first love, young Callum Turner, who died early. After landing at The Junction, they meet afterlife coordinators Da’Vine Joy Randolph and John Early, who guide clients toward their ideal eternity.
“The scariest part was just having to confront what love means to me,” Freyne explained. “For me and co‑writer Pat Cunnane, we spent a lot of time dissecting what matters in a relationship, reflecting on past partnerships, and challenging our current ones—all in a positive light.”
Though sometimes jarring, this exploration was also heartwarming. “It was lovely to see love in its many forms. With her relationship with Luke, her first husband, and her second husband Larry, it’s not about right or wrong—each reflects something different, and at different points in her life. That’s what makes it special.”
Olsen, who married Robbie Arnett in 2020, noted how her own marriage mirrored the film’s dynamics. “Lizzie always says that the moment she fell in love with Larry was when he choked on a pretzel because she could so easily imagine her husband doing that.” This brought a personal touch to the story, reminding the team of their own truthful experiences.
The movie offers a range of afterlife options, from Celebrity World to Yacht World, and even revisits discontinued realms like Wine World. Freyne recalled, “I loved conjuring them all up. In writing, I’d picture medieval settings with modern plumbing, or a fun interpretation of 1940s Ireland absent the famine, or Weimar Germany without the Nazis. Those are exciting ideas.”
Although born in Ireland, Freyne himself is not opposed to dancing at Studio 54 World—“I would love to go there. I think that’d be great.”
He encourages audiences to leave “Eternity” entertained, laughing, and perhaps reflecting on their own relationships and the different paths to happiness. “I hope they enjoyed it, and maybe it makes them think about what happiness looks like,” he said.
Lastly, Freyne hinted at future projects: “I’d like to revisit The Junction. It’s a rich world, maybe on television, exploring the after‑life coordinators again. We had so much fun there.”
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