Cast of the Life List – Full Cast, Roles and Details

Netflix’s The Life List brings Lori Nelson Spielman’s beloved novel to the screen in a story about inheritance, self-discovery, and the lists we make as children. The film premiered on March 28, 2025, introducing audiences to a fresh ensemble of talent alongside seasoned performers. This guide catalogs every significant role in the production, from the leads to the supporting players who give Alex Rose’s journey its texture.

The cast spans multiple generations of actors, with Sofia Carson anchoring the story as the grieving daughter who must confront her past. Director and writer Adam Brooks assembled his team over several months of casting in 2024, announcing principals in March and expanding the roster through April. The result is a balanced ensemble that blends rising stars with established names from television and film.

Who is in the cast of The Life List?

The production features a 40-plus member ensemble, though only a select group drives the narrative forward. Principal photography unfolded in March 2024 across locations including Nyack, New York, where much of the story unfolds. Below is a structured overview of the key figures bringing this adaptation to life.

Key facts about the cast

• The Life List is a Netflix original romantic comedy-drama released on March 28, 2025
• Based on Lori Nelson Spielman’s novel of the same name
• Directed, written, and produced by Adam Brooks alongside Liza Chasin (3dot Productions)
• Principal photography took place in March 2024 in Nyack, New York
• Lead casting announcements began March 2024; supporting additions followed in April 2024
• Sofia Carson anchors the film following her Netflix success with Purple Hearts (2022) and Carry-On (2024)

Snapshot of confirmed production details

Who is the main character in The Life List?

Alexandra “Alex” Rose sits at the center of the narrative, portrayed by Sofia Carson. The character inherits more than material wealth when her mother Elizabeth Rose passes away—Elizabeth leaves behind a series of pre-recorded video messages, each challenging Alex to complete an item from a childhood bucket list she had written years earlier.

Alex Rose’s journey

The bucket list tasks range from the seemingly trivial to the genuinely daunting. Alex attempts stand-up comedy, attends a mosh pit, and faces a piano recital—all while working through grief and uncovering long-buried family secrets. Through these challenges, she discovers her birth father is musician Johnny Alvarez, played by Jordi Mollà.

Key characters surrounding Alex

Alex’s emotional landscape is populated by her two brothers, Lucas (Dario Ladani Sanchez) and Julian (Federico Rodriguez), as well as her lifelong friend Megan (Chelsea Frei). Connie Britton portrays the late Elizabeth Rose through the video messages that drive Alex’s transformation.

Who plays Brad in The Life List?

Kyle Allen portrays Bradley “Brad” Ackerman, the estate executor who becomes unexpectedly central to Alex’s life. As the lawyer handling Elizabeth Rose’s affairs, Brad works closely with Alex during a vulnerable period, and that proximity develops into something more personal as the story progresses.

Brad’s role in the narrative

Brad enters the story as a professional figure—the person tasked with ensuring Elizabeth’s wishes are properly executed. His character arc involves transitioning from fiduciary duty to genuine emotional investment in Alex’s well-being. The Netflix synopsis describes him as someone who “grows close to Alex” over the course of the film.

Key relationship dynamics

Brad’s relationship with Alex forms one of the film’s primary romantic threads. The character also appears alongside Nina, his girlfriend who is portrayed by Maria Jung in the extended cast listings. This secondary relationship adds complexity to Brad’s positioning within the narrative.

Who is Kyle Allen in The Life List?

Kyle Allen is an American actor who has built a career spanning stage, television, and film. His casting as Brad Ackerman represents a significant expanding role following his work in various productions. The Cosmopolitan character profile describes his character as “the lawyer executor who grows close to Alex,” positioning Allen in the film’s romantic center alongside Carson.

Prior work and career background

Allen has appeared in multiple projects across different genres. His casting in The Life List was announced among the principal performers in March 2024, alongside Sofia Carson, Sebastian de Souza, and Connie Britton. This grouping placed Allen among the film’s top-billed ensemble from the earliest stage of production.

Allen in the broader ensemble

Working opposite Sofia Carson, Kyle Allen’s Brad represents one of two primary male roles in the film, alongside Sebastian de Souza’s Garrett Taylor. The dynamic between these characters creates different facets of Alex’s post-grief journey—Brad through legal and emotional proximity, Garrett through workplace interaction.

Production and Release Timeline

The Life List moved from announcement to release within approximately one year. The following timeline outlines the major milestones in the production’s public history.

1. Pre-2025 — Project announced; rights acquired and development begins
2. March 2024 — Principal casting announced: Sofia Carson, Kyle Allen, Sebastian de Souza, Connie Britton
3. March 2024 — Principal photography begins in Nyack, New York
4. April 2024 — Supporting cast additions: José Zúñiga, Jordi Mollà, Marianne Rendón, Chelsea Frei
5. March 28, 2025 — Netflix release worldwide

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Transparency about the boundaries of available information helps readers distinguish confirmed facts from inferred details. The sources consulted for this article provide solid grounding for most lead roles, though some supporting positions lack detailed confirmation.

The Life List in the Romantic Comedy Landscape

The Life List arrives in a streaming landscape that has seen renewed interest in romantic comedy-drama hybrids. Netflix has invested consistently in the genre, with Sofia Carson herself appearing in multiple romantic productions for the platform. The source novel by Lori Nelson Spielman carries its own readership, many of whom brought expectations about character interpretations to the adaptation.

The casting philosophy prioritizes both recognition and range. Carson brings established audience connection; Connie Britton provides awards-caliber gravitas in a condensed role. Kyle Allen and Sebastian de Souza represent different acting traditions—Allen grounded in American productions, de Souza shaped by British series like Skins and The Great. Their contrast enriches the film’s interpersonal dynamics.

Critical response to the film has been mixed, according to available sources. The ensemble cast received particular attention in early reviews, with the interplay between Carson and Allen drawing specific commentary. The bucket-list structure provides natural episodic progression, though some reviewers noted familiar genre patterns within the execution.

Sources and Perspectives

Sofia Carson is at the center as Alex, whose mother leaves behind a bucket list—and some surprising secrets—in this sweet rom-com.

— Cosmopolitan, The Life List Cast and Characters guide

The primary sources for this article include Wikipedia’s film entry, which provides the most comprehensive cast roster with role assignments, and Cosmopolitan’s character guide, which offers context for lead performances. Additional cast confirmation comes from MovieMeter’s detailed credit listing. Production details draw from Wikipedia’s information and general industry reporting on the Netflix release schedule.

For readers interested in exploring similar cast guides or comparing this release to concurrent productions, several related resources offer additional context. The Cast of the Wild Robot article provides a comparable ensemble breakdown for another recent animated feature. Similarly, the Andor Season 2 Release Date – Full Schedule and Cast Guide offers extensive cast documentation for those interested in streaming series beyond theatrical releases.

Summary

The Life List features Sofia Carson as Alex Rose in a Netflix romantic drama released March 28, 2025, directed by Adam Brooks from his own screenplay. The ensemble also includes Kyle Allen as estate executor Brad Ackerman, Sebastian de Souza as coworker Garrett Taylor, and Connie Britton in a posthumous appearance as Alex’s mother Elizabeth. Supporting performances span a 40-plus member cast, with notable appearances from José Zúñiga, Jordi Mollà, Dario Ladani Sanchez, Federico Rodriguez, Marianne Rendón, and Chelsea Frei. Principal photography occurred in March 2024 in Nyack, New York, with casting announcements spanning March and April of that year. The film is adapted from Lori Nelson Spielman’s novel and represents Netflix’s ongoing investment in the romantic comedy-drama space.

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