Director Will Gluck, Sydney Sweeney & Glen Powell talk about the magic of working together in “Anyone But You”

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell play romantic nemeses pretending to be a couple in the romantic comedy Anyone But You.

For director Will Gluck, Anyone But You was a chance to make a romantic comedy that was as funny as any in recent memory. “Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are simply two of the funniest people I’ve ever worked with,” says Gluck. “You put them on the big screen together, and magic happens.”

Advertisement

In Anyone But You, Sweeney (Euphoria) and Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) play romantic enemies Bea and Ben, respectively, who have to put aside their personal vendettas and pretend to be a head-over-heels couple in order to keep the peace at Bea’s sister’s wedding. The film also stars Alexandra Shipp, Darren Barnet, Hadley Robinson, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Michelle Hurd, Bryan Brown and GaTa. 

Watch the trailer: 

“As much as Bea hates Ben, and vice versa, it’s important to Bea not to wreck her sister’s wedding. So, she hatches her plan: these two people who actually hate each other will pretend to like each other,” says Sweeney. “But as she and Ben are drawn together, they start to actually love each other, but can’t admit it to themselves.”

Of course, it’s not long before they get in over their heads. “Sometimes, I wonder if Will was just rubbing his hands together, thinking about all of the messed-up situations and crazy stuff he could make Glen and me do,” Sweeney continues. “On the other hand, it was all incredibly funny. So we did it. You’re welcome, Will.”

“I am really excited for the world to see Sydney in this movie,” says Powell. “She’s obviously proven herself to be a powerhouse dramatic actress, but being the female lead in a romantic comedy is not an easy task. You are the audience surrogate so the world has to really root for you to fall in love. There is something vulnerable and honest about Sydney that makes this movie come to life. Without that current of humanity running through this genre, it would fall flat. But this movie sings (literally and figuratively) because Sydney can stand in front of a camera and offer up her heart in a way that feels heroic.”

Sweeney has nothing but great things to say about her costar as well. “Glen is handsome, charming, funny, talented, and thoughtful. He’s also an incredibly loyal friend and a true pro,” says the actress. “That’s everything you could possibly ask for from an acting partner playing your fake boyfriend.”

Sweeney, who is also the film’s executive producer, gives credit to the movie’s writers for making it relatable for audiences. “You see it all the time – people are so afraid of being vulnerable, of opening themselves up to another person, that they sabotage the best relationships they’ve ever had,” says Sweeney. “Bea and Ben have a connection that is so real, deep, and immediate that they are going to do everything they can to deny it – until they can’t anymore.”

Anyone But You opens in cinemas January 17.