The rom-com’s heyday may be far in the past at this point, but with two buzzy leads, Will Gluck‘s “Anyone But You” could be a sleeper on the calendar to end 2023. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell star as two former college classmates who fake being in a relationship at a mutual friend’s wedding to deal with their exes at the ceremony. Sound like a premise similar to Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing“? Well, that’s because it is.
READ MORE: Fall Film Preview: 60+ Most Anticipated Movies To Watch
But it’s also a common trope in romantic comedies: an odd-couple pairing between two people who can’t stand each other but inevitably fall in love. In the case of “Anyone But You,” though, its two reluctant lovebirds are especially toxic. At CinemaCon earlier this year, Sweeney and Powell their onscreen pairing as the intertwining of a “nightmare” and “an asshole.” “As you can maybe guess, this movie is about two people that hate each other,” Powell said about the upcoming film. “And what better place to put a nightmare and an asshole than on the other side of the world, in the most romantic setting imaginable?”
We all know a few nightmares and assholes: but in such close proximity and at a wedding of all places? Expect a lot of volatility between these two before the sparks between them eventually fly. “Anyone But You” also stars Alexandra Shipp, GaTa, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, and Dermot Mulroney. Darren Barnet and Rachel Griffiths round out the main cast.
Gluck directs a script co-written by him and Ilana Wolpert. It’s Gluck’s first film since 2021’s “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.” Gluck also co-produces “Anyone But You” with Jeff Kirschenbaum and Joe Roth. Lead Sweeney is also an executive producer on the film.
Calling Sweeney and Powell two of Hollywood’s biggest rising stars is an understatement. Sweeney has blown up in the past couple of years thanks to Sam Levinson‘s “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus.” Other recent work for the actress includes the Max film “Reality” and “Americana.” And next year Sweeney has three films on her calendar already: the Spidey-verse spinoff “Madame Web,” the horror film “Immaculate” and the thriller “Echo Valley.” As for Powell, his star power rose last year due to “Top Gun: Maverick,” but critics loved him in Richard Linklater‘s “Hit Man,” premiering on the Lido earlier this Fall. Up next, he stars in “Twisters,” a big test to see if he’s a future Hollywood leading man.
As for “Anyone But You,” the rom-com hits theaters on December 15. Check out the first-look image from the film below.
