Alia Shawkat and Kristen Stewart reunite in 'The Wrong Girls

Alia Shawkat will reunite with Kristen Stewart in The Wrong Girls, a new Neon stoner comedy premiering August 14, after their fraught first on-screen collaboration in 2010’s The Runaways left Shawkat “literally not allowed to speak.”

Speaking at a recent Los Angeles screening, Shawkat recalled that on the set of The Runaways—where she played guitarist Lita Ford and Stewart played drummer Sandy West—they were both teenagers with no control over the material or the direction. The film’s script and tone were tightly controlled by director Floria Sigismondi and the studio, leaving little room for improvisation or camaraderie. Shawkat described feeling sidelined, a common experience for young actors on big studio sets, especially when working with older male producers and directors who often dominated creative decisions.

The Wrong Girls marks a creative rebound for both actors. The comedy, written and directed by Dylan Meyer, is a low-budget, high-energy romp about two stoner friends navigating life and love in Los Angeles. Unlike The Runaways, where Shawkat says she was “treated like a prop,” The Wrong Girls is a passion project for both women, who co-produce and play friends who get tangled in a bizarre crime caper. Stewart has long spoken about wanting to move beyond the constraints of blockbuster franchises like Twilight, and Shawkat, known for Arrested Development and Search Party, has pushed for roles that let her flex comedic muscles.

The reunion arrives at a moment when both actors are redefining their careers on their own terms. Stewart recently starred in the indie hit Spencer and will next appear in the Apple TV+ series The Buccaneers. Shawkat, meanwhile, is set to lead in the upcoming Peacock series Based on a True Story. Their collaboration in The Wrong Girls feels like a small but meaningful step toward better creative control—and a reminder that even early career missteps can lead to stronger partnerships down the line.