Kristen Stewart is officially stepping into the director’s chair with her first feature film, The Chronology of Water, a cinematic adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s critically acclaimed memoir. The newly released trailer offers audiences a glimpse of Stewart’s artistic vision — a bold, raw, and emotionally layered exploration of survival and self-discovery.
From her breakout role in the Twilight franchise to collaborations with influential filmmakers such as Kelly Reichardt (Certain Women), Olivier Assayas (Clouds of Sils Maria), Pablo Larraín (Spencer), and David Cronenberg (Crimes of the Future), Stewart has steadily built a reputation for taking creative risks. Now, after nearly eight years of careful development, she is set to make her mark as a director.
In The Chronology of Water, Imogen Poots portrays Yuknavitch, a once-promising swimmer whose journey is shaped by personal loss, substance abuse, fractured relationships, and ultimately, a transformative path toward becoming a writer. The film blends an intimate 16mm visual style with a nonlinear storytelling approach, mirroring the fluid and memory-driven structure of its source material.
The official synopsis describes the film as tracing Lidia’s life from her earliest days in the Pacific Northwest, through near-motherhood, struggles with addiction, and encounters with influential figures in the arts. Rather than a straightforward biographical account, it presents an immersive “memory wash” that turns pain into creative expression. Yuknavitch’s distinct voice — both defiant and deeply human — has helped make her memoir a cult favorite, and Stewart’s adaptation appears poised to honor that spirit.
Joining Poots in the ensemble cast are Thora Birch, Jim Belushi, Tom Sturridge, and Earl Cave. For Poots, fresh off her performance opposite Brett Goldstein in Apple TV’s romantic drama All of You, the role offers a powerful opportunity to showcase her range in a deeply emotive project.
If the trailer is any indication, The Chronology of Water will not only mark an impressive debut for Stewart as a filmmaker but also stand as an unapologetic cinematic portrait of resilience, identity, and reinvention. The film opens in select theatres on December 5. UK and Irish audiences can expect the film to make its theatrical debut on February 6, 2026.
