Movie

Preparation for the Next Life

Released: September 5, 2025 (2025)

Runtime: 116 minutes

Genres: Drama, Romance

Aishe, a Uyghur woman trained by her military father, migrates to New York City where she finds herself laboring in Chinatown’s underground kitchens. She fatefully encounters Skinner, a young American soldier who has just returned from three tours in the Middle East. While falling in love, they discover the possibility of a better life together than the ones they believed they were destined to live alone.

Main Cast (Top 10 billed, oldest first)

B. Todd Johnston as Jim
Age at release: 40
Fred Hechinger as Skinner
Age at release: 25
Sebiye Behtiyar as Aishe
Age at release: Unknown
Landyn Lu as Munro
Age at release: Unknown
Ella Rouwen Chen as Chen
Age at release: Unknown
Maxwell Almono as Luis
Age at release: Unknown
Justin Cotta as Cop (Times Square)
Age at release: Unknown
Alicher Adill as Aziz
Age at release: Unknown
Dralla Aierken as Arzu
Age at release: Unknown
Erden Uyghur as Young Aishe
Age at release: Unknown

Show more cast

Bernadette Quigley as Mrs. Murphy
Age at release: 64
Michelle Mao as Angela
Age at release: 26
Esther Chen as Min
Age at release: Unknown
Celine Cheung as Yi
Age at release: Unknown
Jessica Ma as Ma
Age at release: Unknown
Whitney Chi as Chi
Age at release: Unknown
Winnie Guo as Guo
Age at release: Unknown
Gabriel Furman as Officer Furman
Age at release: Unknown
Joshua De Jesus as Officer De Jesus
Age at release: Unknown
Divina Ito as Deputy
Age at release: Unknown
Jasmin Richardson as Jasmin
Age at release: Unknown
Tien-Li Wu as Tien-Li
Age at release: Unknown
Lynn Xiong as Yu
Age at release: Unknown
Myrna Cabello as Myrna
Age at release: Unknown
Austin Owens Kelly as Cashier
Age at release: Unknown
Nasi Mirsalahuddin as Street Meat Vendor
Age at release: Unknown
Doug Yasuda as Doug
Age at release: Unknown
James DiGiacomo as Jake
Age at release: Unknown
Eddie Yu as Polo
Age at release: Unknown
Sze Chan as Sassoon
Age at release: Unknown