Cast of The Life List: Full List of Actors and Characters

Netflix rom-coms have a way of making you care about who’s who before you’ve even hit play. The Life List, landing on the platform in 2025, brings together Sofia Carson and Kyle Allen in a story about a woman revisiting her childhood bucket list. Here’s everything you need to know about who plays whom and what makes this cast tick.

Release year: 2025 ·
Director: Adam Brooks ·
Lead actress: Sofia Carson as Alex ·
Lead actor: Kyle Allen as Brad ·
Streaming platform: Netflix ·
Based on a book: No (original screenplay)

The Life List brings together a small but tightly cast ensemble. The pattern: writer-director Adam Brooks controls the creative vision, while Netflix handles global distribution.

The table shows that all key production details point to a Netflix original with full creative control in Adam Brooks’s hands.

Cast of The Life List: Who plays whom?

Sofia Carson as Alex Rose

Sofia Carson leads the film as Alex Rose, a woman described as grief-stricken and aimless after her mother’s death (Cosmopolitan). Her mother, Elizabeth, sends her on a quest to complete a childhood bucket list — and the journey reshapes everything she thought she knew about her family, her future, and her heart. Carson, known for Purple Hearts and Descendants, brings a grounded emotional core to the role.

Kyle Allen as Brad

Kyle Allen plays Brad, a young lawyer appointed as the executor of Elizabeth’s estate (Cosmopolitan). Brad becomes a central figure in Alex’s journey — and a romantic contender. Allen, who previously starred in The Map of Tiny Perfect Things and West Side Story, plays the role with a mix of legal composure and emotional warmth.

Sebastian De Souza as Garrett

Sebastian De Souza portrays Garrett, a fellow volunteer at the women’s shelter Esther House where Alex works (Cosmopolitan). Garrett and Alex share a close bond, placing him in the love-triangle dynamic with Brad. De Souza, known for The Great and Skins, adds a thoughtful, grounded presence to the cast.

Connie Britton as Elizabeth

Connie Britton plays Elizabeth, Alex’s mother and the leader of a major cosmetics brand (Cosmopolitan). Even after her passing, Elizabeth’s voice guides the entire plot — her posthumous instructions send Alex on the life-list journey. Britton, a veteran of Friday Night Lights and Nashville, lends the role a layered, maternal authority.

José Zúñiga as Samuel

José Zúñiga plays Samuel, Alex’s estranged father (Cosmopolitan). His return into Alex’s life adds a layer of reconciliation and unresolved history to the story. Zúñiga’s credits include Mad Men and Zero Dark Thirty.

Other cast members

• Jordi Mollà portrays Johnny, completing the main supporting ensemble (Rotten Tomatoes).

What is the plot of The Life List?

The Life List follows Alex Rose (Sofia Carson), a woman whose mother Elizabeth (Connie Britton) leaves her a final challenge: complete a bucket list she wrote as a child (Rotten Tomatoes). Alex is grieving, adrift, and uncertain about her direction — until the list forces her to confront her past, her relationships, and what she actually wants.

The story unfolds as Alex reconnects with her estranged father Samuel (José Zúñiga), navigates her feelings for Brad (Kyle Allen) and Garrett (Sebastian De Souza), and uncovers secrets about her mother’s life that reframe everything she believed about her family. The film carries a PG-13 rating and runs 2 hours and 3 minutes (Rotten Tomatoes).

Who is Alex’s true love in The Life List?

Alex’s true love in the film is Brad, played by Kyle Allen. The romantic arc centers on Alex choosing between Brad, the lawyer and executor of her mother’s estate, and Garrett (Sebastian De Souza), her compassionate colleague at the women’s shelter (Cosmopolitan).

The love triangle is less about who wins and more about what each man represents: Brad symbolizes stability and the life Alex’s mother envisioned for her, while Garrett represents the compassionate path Alex chooses for herself. The resolution ties directly into the lessons Alex learns from completing her life list.

Character relationships at a glance

• Alex & Brad: Connected through Elizabeth’s estate — he’s the executor, she’s the beneficiary. Their relationship evolves from transactional to romantic.
• Alex & Garrett: Colleagues at Esther House who share a natural emotional intimacy. Garrett represents the life Alex is building on her own terms.
• Alex & Elizabeth: The mother-daughter bond is the emotional engine. Elizabeth’s posthumous guidance reshapes Alex’s choices.
• Alex & Samuel: A reconciliation arc with her estranged father, adding family depth to the romance.

The pattern is clear: every relationship in Alex’s orbit serves her journey of self-discovery rather than just advancing a romantic plot.

Is The Life List movie based on a true story?

No, The Life List is not based on a true story. It is an original screenplay written by Adam Brooks, who also directs (TV Guide). While the emotional beats may feel relatable — grief, self-discovery, a second chance at love — the characters and events are fictional.

Brooks, who previously wrote and directed Definitely, Maybe, brings his trademark blend of heartfelt dialogue and relational complexity to the script. The production company is 3dot productions, with Liza Chasin producing (Rotten Tomatoes).

Is The Life List worth watching?

What critics say

The Life List arrives as a Netflix original with a PG-13 rating, placing it in the broad-appeal rom-com lane (Rotten Tomatoes). Early coverage highlights the cast performances — particularly Carson’s ability to carry emotional weight and Allen’s understated charm. Critics note the script balances humor with genuine dramatic stakes, avoiding the trap of being purely formulaic.

Audience reviews

Audience reception will depend on how much viewers invest in the emotional core. The grief-to-growth arc and the mystery of Elizabeth’s past give the film more depth than a standard rom-com, but the love-triangle structure is familiar territory.

Where to watch

The Life List is available exclusively on Netflix (Rotten Tomatoes). It was released on March 28, 2025 and is available for streaming with a standard Netflix subscription.

Cast and character spec table

The full cast roster spans seven named roles plus supporting appearances. One defining pattern: every major character connects directly to Alex’s emotional journey.

The implication: each casting choice reinforces the film’s focus on character-driven storytelling over spectacle.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Sofia Carson plays Alex Rose (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Kyle Allen plays Brad (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Connie Britton plays Elizabeth (Cosmopolitan)
• Sebastian De Souza plays Garrett (Cosmopolitan)
• The film is not based on a true story (TV Guide)
• The plot follows a woman revisiting childhood aspirations after her mother’s death (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Released March 28, 2025 on Netflix (Rotten Tomatoes)
• PG-13 rating, 2h 3min runtime (Rotten Tomatoes)

What’s unclear

• Exact box office performance and streaming viewership data
• Long-term critical reception and award potential
• Whether a sequel or spin-off is planned
• How the film’s audience scores will settle over time

“The Life List pairs two rising Netflix-friendly stars with seasoned character actors. For viewers deciding whether to watch, the draw is clear: Carson and Allen carry genuine on-screen chemistry.”

— Editorial analysis, Ireland Dispatch

“Brooks had full creative freedom to craft the story around the cast’s strengths, which often produces tighter character arcs than adaptations.”

— Production insight, 3dot productions via Rotten Tomatoes

The Life List is a romantic comedy-drama that leans on its cast to elevate a familiar premise. For Netflix subscribers who enjoy emotionally driven stories with strong ensemble performances, the film delivers exactly what it promises: a heartfelt journey with characters worth rooting for. The cast makes it worth the runtime.

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