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There are good on-screen romances, and then there are those who make a habit of overstaying their welcome in our hearts, and frankly, Darius Lovehall and Nina Moseley from Love Jones have been living rent-free in ours since 1997. That’s early thirty years, mind you! You’d think the romantics would’ve moved on by now, but apparently Netflix disagrees with you, and hence, we’re having a fortuitous reunion.

Now, be so kind and cast your mind back to Theodore Witcher’s Love Jones, where Larenz Tate played Darius, a smooth-talking poet who thought of himself as quite the charmer until Nia Long’s Nina, a photographer with a mind of her own, entered his life.

He dedicated a poem to her during their first encounter, and the poor chap was smitten. Although getting those two to admit what they wanted from each other? Oh, that was another bloody undertaking.

And just when you thought the romantics had made peace with leaving Darius and Nina in 1997, Netflix has gone and reunited Nia Long and Larenz Tate for another romance, Don’t Ever Wonder. Now, before you start hoping for an update on Darius and Nina’s love life, hold your horses. This isn’t a sequel.

Nearly 30 years later, the Love Jones magic hasn’t worn off

Remember Darius dedicating that rather suggestive poem to Nina at the Sanctuary? One encounter with a beautiful photographer, and the fella was reciting poetry as though he’d been struck by divine inspiration.

But what made Love Jones such a delightful watch wasn’t the grand romantic gestures or swoon-worthy declarations. Nope! It was watching Long and Tate make falling in love feel like a relatable business. Their characters had enough pride, and all the heartbreak that happened could’ve been avoided if they’d just swallowed their egos and talked to each other. But where’s the romantic drama in that, eh?

Now, Love Jones wasn’t exactly setting the box office on fire, but boy, did it find its people! The film developed a cult following and even earned a spot in the prestigious Criterion Collection in 2022.

Netflix’s Don’t Ever Wonder could be another romantic treat

Now for the rather delicious part. Netflix’s new film draws inspiration from Maxwell’s 1996 debut album, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite, which explored the emotional complications of a romantic relationship. And pairing that musical inspiration with the stars of Love Jones? Whoever dreamt up that combination knows their way around a nineties love story.

Eugene Ashe, who directed the exquisite period romance Sylvie’s Love, is at the helm, with Kay Oyegun sharing screenplay duties. The storyline remains under wraps, so whether Long and Tate will be making us swoon as a couple is something Netflix has yet to confirm.

Still, the thought of watching these two fall in love on screen again after all these years is definitely intriguing. And look, nobody’s asking for Darius and Nina to come out of retirement just to spend another two hours being indecisive about their feelings. We’ve been through enough! But if Long and Tate manage to conjure even half the romantic magic they gave us in 1997, well, some of us might have to admit we’ve never quite got over Darius and Nina in the first place.