Sydney Sweeney’s new fake dating film: Everything we know about Anyone But You

Updated Nov. 17, 2023 – Enemies to lovers is the perfect trope, whether you’re reading it or watching it in a film or show! There’s just something about two characters starting out hating each other, but learning to love that I love to see. And I know many of you are like me in the same boat. That’s why it’s exciting that we’re getting a new romantic-comedy, and I can already tell the starring leads are going to melt our hearts!

Anyone But You release date and how to watch

Anyone But You starring Sydney Sweeney debuts in theaters Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. While a streaming home hasn’t been announced yet, it’s very possible the movie will head to Netflix following its run in cinemas. This is because Sony Pictures Releasing, which has distribution rights for the movie, and Netflix have an agreement for the streamer to be the first spot new releases go to after theaters. Fingers crossed this will be the case!

With the story taking place in Australia, the cast and crew set up shop there as well. Filming started in February 2023 and seems to have wrapped in April based on Sweeney’s Instagram post. Ready to learn more about the rom-com? Here’s everything we know about the movie ahead of its release!

What is Anyone But You starring Sydney Sweeney about?

Anyone But You is centered around Bea (Sweeney) and Ben. The two go on an “amazing first date,” but by the end it turns sour. While they try to walk away from each other, fate has other plans when the two have to go to a destination wedding in Australia. And so instead of acknowledging that it didn’t work out, they pretend to be a couple. There’s a twist we didn’t see coming! Enemies to lovers combined with the fake dating trope? Count me in! We shared the official description provided by Sony below:

"In the comedy Anyone But You, Bea and Ben look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold — until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do – pretend to be a couple."

According to Entertainment Weekly, the story is loosely based on the five-acts comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare. Written around 1598 or 1599, Bea and Ben seem to be inspired by Shakespeare’s characters in the play – Beatrice and Benedick. After the two had bad experiences with the other, both try to give off the impression neither is interested, per CliffsNotes. They tease and insult each other, saying they’ll never marry anyone – especially each other. But the sparks are there, and their friends can see it. And so Beatrice and Benedick’s friends coordinate times where each of them can overhear their true feelings for one another. By the end of the play, the two confess their feelings.

With the Sony Pictures film being a romantic-comedy, I think we all know from the beginning and even before watching it how this story is going to go! Of course Bea and Ben will end up together in the end. At least I hope so. But that’s usually how rom-coms play out. After all, that’s what we love about them!

On Oct. 19, 2023, the teaser trailer was released. We get some quick glimpses at how Bea and Ben pretend to be in love, their clear onscreen chemistry, and their disagreements. But after all, there’s a thin line between love and hate! Check out the video below:

On Nov. 17, 2023 we got the official trailer! It reveals that the wedding they’re headed to is Bea’s sister’s, their true “hatred” for each other, and just why they decide to start fake dating at the destination wedding. Check out the video below:

Cast: Where do you know Sydney Sweeney from?

Sydney Sweeney takes on the lead role of Bea. The talented actress has been making a name for herself in the industry for the last few years. And it’s all thanks to her hit role as Cassie Howard in HBO’s Euphoria, as well as playing Olivia Mossbacher in The White Lotus season 1. You may also recognize the actress as Eden Spencer, Nick’s first wife, in The Handmaid’s Tale season 2. Her movie credits include Dianne “Snake” Lake in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Reality Winner in Reality. She also has some upcoming projects like thriller movie Echo Valley, starring alongside Julianne Moore.

Her onscreen love interest is played by Glen Powell. The actor made his breakthrough as Chad Radwell in Fox’s black comedy series Scream Queens. In films, he’s been John Glenn in Hidden Figures, Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin in Top Gun: Maverick, and Tom Hudner in Devotion.

EW shares that back in April 2023 (before the actors strike began) when Sweeney and Powell attended CinemaCon in Las Vegas to promote the movie, the actor described each of their characters. Here’s what he said below:

"As you can maybe guess, this movie is about two people that hate each other. And what better place to put a nightmare and an a–hole than on the other side of the world, in the most romantic setting imaginable?"

And while onscreen the two characters may “hate each other,” at least at the beginning I’m sure, the actors and the rest of their co-stars seem to have formed a wonderful friendship! Some of them, including Sweeney and Powell, headed to amusement park Luna Park Sydney while filming in Australia and had a blast together. Check out the images on Sweeney’s Instagram post! Below, we shared the full cast list:

• Sydney Sweeney as Bea
• Glen Powell as Ben
• Alexandra Shipp
• Hadley Robinson
• Michelle Hurd
• Dermot Mulroney
• Darren Barnet
• Rachel Griffiths
• GaTa

The Bea actress also takes on an executive producer role in the project. The film is directed by producer Will Gluck, who also co-wrote the script with Ilana Wolpert.

Check out the first-look images for the movie below:

Anyone But You hits theaters Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote as we keep you updated on the movie ahead of its release!