Ariana Grande is offering fans a glimpse into her future while reflecting on her past. The singer and Wicked star recently released a deluxe edition of her album Eternal Sunshine along with a 26-minute short film titled Brighter Days Ahead. The film continues the story of her music video for “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love),” which drew inspiration from the 2000s classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
In the short film, Grande portrays an older version of her character, Peaches, who is preparing to revisit her most cherished memories. This version of Peaches has long, graying hair, a hearing aid, wrinkles, and is no longer seen in her signature ponytail. As she watches a montage of her life, including childhood moments and clips of her parents and grandparents dancing, emotions run high. Fans may want to have tissues ready, as the film explores both joyful and heart-wrenching moments from Peaches’ past.
Peaches, now older, still wears her classic French manicure, and her hand tattoos—especially the fingertip designs—remain visible, though they have faded over time. Award-winning special effects artist Justin Raleigh provided the makeup and prosthetics to transform Grande into her older self. Throughout the film, Grande sings several tracks from Eternal Sunshine while Peaches reflects on her life, moving through the emotional ruins of her past before stepping into a new chapter.
The themes of Brighter Days Ahead echo the overall message of Eternal Sunshine and the “We Can’t Be Friends” video—how both the good and the bad moments in life help shape who you are meant to become. Grande’s portrayal of Peaches shows this emotional journey, with her face reflecting the depth of her character’s experiences.
In a 2023 interview with Vogue, Grande opened up about aging and her decision to stop using injectables. She shared that while she wasn’t ruling out the possibility of using them again, she was content with her decision at the time. “I want to see my well-earned cry lines and smile lines,” she explained. “I hope my smile lines get deeper and deeper as I laugh more. Aging can be such a beautiful thing.”
