Prime Video has unveiled first-look photos of its upcoming romantic drama The Map That Leads to You, starring Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa. The film will premiere on Prime Video on August 20, 2025. Early visuals hint at an emotional self-discovery journey with a scenic European backdrop.
Directed by Lasse Hallström and adapted from J.P. Monninger's best-selling novel, the story follows two young wayfarers brought together by chance and shaped by the journey ahead. The first glimpses suggest a powerful on-screen romance between Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa, with the European setting adding to the film's sweeping romantic feel.
The Map That Leads to You: Plot details
The film centers on Heather, a recent college graduate who takes a vacation with her close friends in Europe before beginning work in New York City. With a set travel schedule in mind, Heather's plans are disrupted after she meets Jack on an overnight train to Barcelona. Jack is a spontaneous traveler tracing his late grandfather's journal across Europe.
As their worlds intertwine, Heather, Jack, and their groups of friends travel through Spain, Portugal, and Italy together. Eventually, they become closer and are faced with issues of timing and compatibility, making viewers wonder if an international love can work beyond a summer romance.
About KJ Apa and Madelyn Cline's characters on The Map That Leads to You
Madelyn Cline, known for her roles in Glass Onion (2022), Boy Erased (2018), and Stranger Things (2017), stars as Heather, a serious and ambitious young woman under the strain of coming adulthood. Her journey across Europe is a final adventure before entering the working world. She's meticulous and not open to abandoning her course.
KJ Apa, known for his roles in Riverdale (2017-23), The Last Summer (2019), and I Still Believe (2022), plays Jack, a spontaneous, easy-going backpacker who shuns planned outings and strict obligations. He travels Europe following his grandfather's travel diary. Jack's carefree nature is the opposite of Heather's structured mindset, setting the stage for their emotional development to develop at the heart of the story.
About The Map That Leads to You
The Map That Leads to You is directed by Lasse Hallström, known for his work on Dear John and Safe Haven. The screenplay was written by Les Bohem and Vera Herbert, bringing Monninger's novel to the big screen. The film features an ensemble cast including:
- Madelyn Cline as Heather Mulgrew
- KJ Apa as Jack
- Madison Thompson as Amy
- Orlando Norman as Raef
- Anya Strong as Marilyn Cutts
- JR Esposito as Travis
- Giuseppe Schillaci as Marco
- Karl-el Santos as Raef’s Cousin
- Diego Ross as Luis
- Eva García Montiel as Jorge Osório (Tour Guide)
Prime Video describes the project as a "coming-of-age story" that explores the transition from youthful freedom to long-term responsibility. Aside from romance, the movie looks at personal growth, the effects of travel, and the decisions that determine one's future.
Catch the latest release of The Map That Leads to You on August 20, 2025, available on Prime Video.