“If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. At a moment where brand collaborations are a dime a dozen, it’s all but impossible to stand out. Thanks to what Josh Hutcherson calls an “unexpected yet perfect collision of worlds,” The”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
At a moment where brand collaborations are a dime a dozen, it’s all but impossible to stand out. Thanks to what Josh Hutcherson calls an “unexpected yet perfect collision of worlds,” The Ritz-Carlton and Late Checkout’s partnership completely defied the odds.
What began as a “chemistry check” between the brands in 2023, says The Ritz-Carlton’s Global Head of Brand and Marketing Jamie Kerr, turned into an award-winning short film and sold-out clothing capsule in 2024 and, now, a second chapter of the cinematic campaign and hotel-inspired collection. Launching globally on Nov. 18, 2025, at 7 am PT/10 am ET, Late Checkout: A Ritz-Carlton Story – Chapter II will be available to shop online and at 22 Ritz-Carlton properties worldwide.
In addition to speaking with Late Checkout creative director Alex Turrión (who co-founded the Madrid-based fashion label alongside Antón Álvarez in 2019); Cristina Trenas, co-founder of the film’s production company Little Spain; Kerr (The Ritz-Carlton) and Hutcherson, The Hollywood Reporter received exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the filming of the latest campaign in August 2025. Set in and around The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko — a lush, waterfall-filled oasis in the mountains north of Tokyo, Japan — the serene backdrop marks a clear, and intentional, departure from the vibrant energy of the first chapter’s location, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.
Behind the scenes photo from filming of Late Checkout: A Ritz-Carlton Story – Chapter II campaign video. Erin Lassner for The Hollywood Reporter
“When you see the full campaign, you’ll think that some photos are AI generated or with chroma because they look so unreal,” says Turrión (Late Checkout), “but it’s [because] of shooting [in Nikko] — I think it’s magic.” Beyond the setting’s unrivaled beauty and this collection’s effortless cool factor, the biggest takeaway from time on set was the team’s palpable sense of chemistry, one that Hutcherson points out is “rare for projects like this.”
The filming of Chapter II resembled a very big — and very stylish — family reunion, or “summer camp,” as director Rogelio González often describes it, according to Trenas (Little Spain). After all, it doubled as a celebration of the team’s 2025 Gold Cannes Lion for Late Checkout: A Ritz-Carlton Story, 2024’s inaugural collaboration.
“Not only are we working together, but also we are living together,” Trenas adds. “Shoots are super stressful, and everyone always needs something they don’t have, but when you come to think of it, I’m with my friends in Japan, creating something I believe in, so that makes it really special.”
Along with the chemistry and resulting “trust” between the teams, explains Kerr (The Ritz-Carlton), Hutcherson is the other leading factor in the partnership’s deep audience resonance. “He was so key to the success of the first film — and I think to the success of this one [one] — [in] that he brought his own sense of storytelling and character development.”
Little Spain’s creative approach, in turn, fosters an environment that lets Hutcherson explore. “What I love about Little Spain is the way they direct, there’s style and precision, but also a looseness that encourages curiosity,” he tells THR. “They find the poetry in the small moments.”
The Hunger Games actor and current star of Rachel Sennott’s I Love LA now brings the second collection to life on screen, a collection that expands 2024’s nine-piece clothing capsule into one spanning accessories, loungewear, children’s pieces and home essentials.
This time around, “the crown of the collection,” as Turrión describes it, is the sukajan jacket (it’s Hutcherson’s favorite too). “I love Japan, I’ve been there many times, and I also like collecting vintage clothes from my trips,” says Turrión. “And in Japan, those jackets are like works of art. And I thought we needed to do a rendition to that iconic piece.”
“The Ritz-Carlton brought this sense of timeless elegance, Late Checkout added a sharp, irreverent edge and Little Spain captured the emotion and atmosphere that tied it all together,” says Hutcherson of Chapter II. “Watching those worlds collide from hospitality, fashion, to film, reminded me that creativity is never static. It’s fluid, constantly shifting and refining as different perspectives meet, and that unpredictability is what ultimately makes the work feel alive.”
Visit The Ritz-Carlton’s online boutique to shop the limited-edition 21-piece capsule, see the full scope of campaign imagery and watch the Hutcherson-led film: Late Checkout: A Ritz-Carlton Story – Chapter II.
Following the Nov. 18 online drop, the rollout will continue in New York (7 Spring Street) with a retail pop-up on Nov. 20, from 10 am to 4 pm
Chapter II’s in-real-life debuts will continue at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai (Nov. 27), Hôtel de la Paix, Geneva (Dec. 10) and The Ritz-Carlton, Abama in the Canary Islands (Dec. 5 through 7). Each activation will feature an immersive “Very Late Checkout” one-night stay, complete with capsule collection showcases, live music, curated cocktails and destination-inspired moments that bring the collaboration to life.
From Dec. 12, 2025, through March 1, 2026, the experience will extend globally. Visit the partnership’s webpage for more information on what’s to come, and see a few more campaign highlights below.
