NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
PEOPLE has the first look at the new romantic comedy Merv, starring Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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They play exes who share custody of their pet Merv, a dog who’s apparently upset that they’re no longer together<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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The sweet holiday-set movie streams on Prime Video on Wednesday, Dec. 10<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Tis the season for rekindling romances \u2014 and Merv is the perfect movie to set the tone.<\/p>\n
PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at director Jessica Swale\u2019s new romantic comedy starring Zooey Deschanel<\/a> and Charlie Cox<\/a> as Anna and Russ, exes who share custody of their adorable dog Merv.<\/p>\nBut ever since Anna and Russ split, Merv hasn\u2019t been himself, and a veterinarian diagnoses him with a case of the blues.<\/p>\n
To raise Merv\u2019s spirits, Russ decides to whisk him away from Boston to beach vacation in Florida \u2014 a trip that Anna promptly crashes.<\/p>\n
![\"Wilson](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/zlrpXUHcD_aFRzWCSNoq1w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/e06be1df0d8a604a2d3daebf878cc0db\"\/)
<\/span><\/div>\n\nWilson Webb\/Prime<\/p>\n
Zooey Deschanel and Gus in ‘Merv.’<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cI loved the story of a couple breaking up but sharing a dog \u2014 and then having to reunite to cure their dog\u2019s melancholy. It just was such a funny concept,\u201d says Deschanel, 45.<\/p>\n
Cox, 42, best known for Marvel Cinematic Universe projects like the Netflix series Daredevil, found himself in new, lighter territory. \u201cTonally, this movie is unlike anything I\u2019ve done before so I relied on Zooey and Jess to guide me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
![\"Wilson](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ghlpBNooWfBffZ9M4mghzg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/05106bc2efb62f9d8d0b59be34935c46\"\/)
<\/span><\/div>\n\nWilson Webb\/Prime<\/p>\n
Charlie Cox and Gus in ‘Merv.’<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cWorking with Zooey, especially in this genre, was like a masterclass,\u201d he continues. \u201cThere are very few actors more accomplished than she is. I really tried to learn as much as i could from her and be as present as possible in the scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n
They clearly pulled it off, as director Jessica Swale says the two (human) leads have amazing chemistry. \u201cThey’re the perfect rom-com couple because they are both joyously funny and real.\u00a0 I’d cast them both again in a heartbeat,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
![\"Prime](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/T27Zf9kpi9Gp1BDyz8iyZQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/b00b2a5e958725206b7381f71afc985e\"\/)
<\/span><\/div>\nAnd as for the pup who portrays Merv? \u201cWe combed the whole country, from checking starry ‘show dogs’ to local mutts sending in self-tapes \u2014 with a little help,\u201d notes Swale. \u201cIt was a real education, not only in what dogs can do, but in how to tell their story on camera- and how only certain dogs would work. We were lucky to find Gus, who plays Merv.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cox and Deschanel were equally impressed.<\/p>\n
![\"Wilson](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/E7QoyuIszTYE7dSbNL8tag--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/baf6ca7d1fe6c67559f9fee6e360995a\"\/)
<\/span><\/div>\n\nWilson Webb\/Prime<\/p>\n
Zooey Deschanel, Gus and Charlie Cox in ‘Merv.’<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cGus has one of those faces that seems to smile at times and be sad at times,\u201d says Cox. \u201cObviously there are a lot of scenes when I would be talking to ‘Merv’ out loud and he would just look at me. It genuinely felt like he was actually listening to my words.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deschanel calls Gus \u201cvery talented and was super fun to work with. He\u2019s a working dog so he\u2019s always paying attention, and professional. He\u2019s super smart and athletic and it was so fun to have a furry friend around.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Dana](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/h5UCDXv27AojJcEsR3ijZA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/459b2fcc60990484ec512c216f22e195\"\/)
<\/span><\/div>\n\nDana Hawley\/Prime<\/p>\n
The star of ‘Merv.’<\/p><\/div>\n
Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\nEven though Merv is set during the holidays, Deschanel doesn\u2019t necessarily think of it as a Christmas movie a la her 2003 classic Elf<\/a>. \u201cIt just has some Christmas elements that make sense for the story. It\u2019s of course a special time of year that often brings us together with family, so it is a good backdrop.\u201d<\/p>\nMerv streams on Prime Video in December.<\/p>\n
PEOPLE has the first look at the new romantic comedy Merv, starring Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
They play exes who share custody of their pet Merv, a dog who’s apparently upset that they’re no longer together<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
The sweet holiday-set movie streams on Prime Video on Wednesday, Dec. 10<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Tis the season for rekindling romances \u2014 and Merv is the perfect movie to set the tone.<\/p>\n
PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at director Jessica Swale\u2019s new romantic comedy starring Zooey Deschanel<\/a> and Charlie Cox<\/a> as Anna and Russ, exes who share custody of their adorable dog Merv.<\/p>\n But ever since Anna and Russ split, Merv hasn\u2019t been himself, and a veterinarian diagnoses him with a case of the blues.<\/p>\n To raise Merv\u2019s spirits, Russ decides to whisk him away from Boston to beach vacation in Florida \u2014 a trip that Anna promptly crashes.<\/p>\n Wilson Webb\/Prime<\/p>\n Zooey Deschanel and Gus in ‘Merv.’<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cI loved the story of a couple breaking up but sharing a dog \u2014 and then having to reunite to cure their dog\u2019s melancholy. It just was such a funny concept,\u201d says Deschanel, 45.<\/p>\n Cox, 42, best known for Marvel Cinematic Universe projects like the Netflix series Daredevil, found himself in new, lighter territory. \u201cTonally, this movie is unlike anything I\u2019ve done before so I relied on Zooey and Jess to guide me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Wilson Webb\/Prime<\/p>\n Charlie Cox and Gus in ‘Merv.’<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWorking with Zooey, especially in this genre, was like a masterclass,\u201d he continues. \u201cThere are very few actors more accomplished than she is. I really tried to learn as much as i could from her and be as present as possible in the scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n They clearly pulled it off, as director Jessica Swale says the two (human) leads have amazing chemistry. \u201cThey’re the perfect rom-com couple because they are both joyously funny and real.\u00a0 I’d cast them both again in a heartbeat,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n And as for the pup who portrays Merv? \u201cWe combed the whole country, from checking starry ‘show dogs’ to local mutts sending in self-tapes \u2014 with a little help,\u201d notes Swale. \u201cIt was a real education, not only in what dogs can do, but in how to tell their story on camera- and how only certain dogs would work. We were lucky to find Gus, who plays Merv.\u201d<\/p>\n Cox and Deschanel were equally impressed.<\/p>\n Wilson Webb\/Prime<\/p>\n Zooey Deschanel, Gus and Charlie Cox in ‘Merv.’<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cGus has one of those faces that seems to smile at times and be sad at times,\u201d says Cox. \u201cObviously there are a lot of scenes when I would be talking to ‘Merv’ out loud and he would just look at me. It genuinely felt like he was actually listening to my words.\u201d<\/p>\n Deschanel calls Gus \u201cvery talented and was super fun to work with. He\u2019s a working dog so he\u2019s always paying attention, and professional. He\u2019s super smart and athletic and it was so fun to have a furry friend around.\u201d<\/p>\n Dana Hawley\/Prime<\/p>\n The star of ‘Merv.’<\/p><\/div>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n Even though Merv is set during the holidays, Deschanel doesn\u2019t necessarily think of it as a Christmas movie a la her 2003 classic Elf<\/a>. \u201cIt just has some Christmas elements that make sense for the story. It\u2019s of course a special time of year that often brings us together with family, so it is a good backdrop.\u201d<\/p>\n Merv streams on Prime Video in December.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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