For the past several months, actors Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney have been in Sydney, Australia filming a movie together. The film is a modern day rendition of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” titled “Anyone But You.” Will Gluck is directing the project. Gluck famously also directed cult favorite rom-coms “Easy A”, “Friends With Benefits”, and “About Last Night.” Darren Barnet of Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever” will also appear in the film.
Paparazzi photos capturing behind-the-scenes moments of the cast mates have found several viral moments on social media. Initially, fans of the film genre and of Sweeney and Powell were excited to get a peak into the project. Both leads have seen a meteoric rise in the past year, with Sweeney having memorable roles in HBO’s “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus” and Powell appearing in Oscar-nominated “Top Gun: Maverick.”
@thekingofburbank We now know #glenpowell #sydneysweeney #easya #friendswithbenifits #fypシ #romcom #muchadoaboutnothing #tenthingsihateaboutyou #shestheman #letterboxd #mid2000s
The Rumors
Naturally, internet sleuths began to pick the on-set adventures apart. The cast members have shared plenty of insider content on the film to their respective social media accounts. Onlookers began speculating that Powell was in a romantic relationship with Sweeney when Sweeney spent Easter with Powell’s family, and Powell’s girlfriend was not there.
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Powell’s longtime girlfriend GiGi Paris unfollowed Sweeney on Instagram following the offscreen photos. Unfollowings carry a new weight in today’s entertainment industry. To add fuel to the fire, Paris posted the popular Fleetwood Mac breakup anthem “Silver Springs” on her story.
That viral vid of Glen Powell & Sydney Sweeney going around w pics of them cozy together, Gigi Paris posting Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac & Respect by Aretha Franklin on her IG story & she deleted all her pics w Glen OH IT IS GETTING GOOD IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS pic.twitter.com/MTnyJOeejl
— mary???? (@harry_fedoras) April 24, 2023
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Sweeney is also engaged, thickening the plot further. People first reported that restauranteur Jonathan Davino proposed to Sweeney in March of 2022. With both romantic film leads seemingly in relationships of their own outside of the film, the infidelity allegations are turning heads across social media.
Some feel that it could just be blown out of proportion, while others feel that a hallmark of a successful 2000s style rom-com is co-stars who fall in love offscreen. Such was the case with several popular films of the genre, including “The Notebook.”
Cheating allegations on set and girlfriends being jealous IT'S THE 2000S AGAIN! REAL CINEMA IS BACK BABY!
— mandy | jodie comer sue storm #1 campaigner ✨ (@BattinsonMarvel) April 24, 2023
The Rom Com Revival
The internet is currently begging the question of whether drama is a necessary element of a solid romantic comedy. In recent months, digital creators on TikTok have revived the popularity of the romantic comedy genre. Specifically, films from the early 2000s and 1990s have become huge sources of inspiration for style and dating advice. These range from “13 Going On 30” and “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days” to “He’s Just Not That Into You” and “10 Things I Hate About You.”
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Several of the creators bringing these films to the forefront of conversation have been critical of more contemporary attempts at the genre, believing that the films somehow did not capture the energy of older rom-coms. The announcement of the Shakespearean-based “Anyone But You” starring Sweeney and Powell immediately had film buffs drawing comparisons to “10 Things I Hate About You” and “She’s The Man,” which are also based on Shakespeare plays.
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One TikTok creator raised a point about why rom-coms feel so lackluster in recent years. Parasocial relationships and mass social media attention tend to cloud romantic comedy actors’ personal lives. Such just might be the case with Sweeney and Powell.
@hannahzookpop #greenscreen okay but these pics really did make me excited for this sydney and glen romcom #romcoms #parasocialrelationships #celebrityculture #internetculture #sydneysweeney #romcommovie #2000sromcoms #yourplaceormine
What We Know
While the unfollowing of Sweeney was heard loud and clear, some are reminding potential moviegoers to not jump to conclusions just yet. Some Twitter users are drawing comparisons to Sweeney’s character Cassie Howard on Euphoria, who infamously homewrecks a relationship. Others are reminding rom-com fans that while the 2000s aesthetic in the genre has been missed, there is no need to bring back the media misogyny that often came with it.
anddd the misogyny just like clockwork. blaming sydney sweeney for whatever’s going on w glen powell & his gf, saying she’s “just like cassie” when he looks equally flirtatious — it’s his fault for making HIS gf uncomfortable. how do u know SHE was the one disrespecting their rs?
— lana misses taylor (@fancymeswift) April 24, 2023
As of now, it remains unclear whether Powell and Paris broke up, and Sweeney has not commented on her engagement to Davino. The production team recently wrapped on “Anyone But You”, and a release date is to be announced.
