As 2024 heats up, get ready to be swept off your feet by the charming ensemble of Anyone But You. Directed by Will Gluck, this romantic comedy brings together a stellar cast, including Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick), who share an inside look at their journey in bringing their characters to life. Sweeney and Powell 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, Charlee Fraser, Joe Davidson and GaTa. 

Buffing Up for the Big Screen

Glen Powell, known for his role in “Top Gun: Maverick,” dives into the unexpected challenge of baring it all in “Anyone But You.” As Ben, he shares, “I didn’t realize how naked I would be [in the movie].” “I knew it was a rom-com, which meant I should stay away from the beer for a bit. But I didn’t expect to be this naked, this often. I kept weights and resistance bands in my trailer that I would break out on certain days, just to keep everything looking good.” To tackle the rom-com physique, Powell traded his beer for weights and resistance bands, creating an impromptu gym in his trailer. Who knew a rom-com could double as a fitness challenge?

From Tasmania to Sydney: A Workout in Kmart

Joe Davidson, playing the boyfriend vying for attention, faced a unique challenge. Just out of Tasmania, he received a call for an audition with Gluck in Sydney. The catch? He needed to be “big and strong.” Davidson, in a classic underdog move, concocted a quick workout in a Kmart. “It said specifically in the email that Beau must be big and strong, and I’d just spent a few weeks in Tasmania traveling around, so I wasn’t in peak physical condition at all,” recalls Davidson. “I headed up to Sydney and went into a Kmart, grabbed two dumbbells, and started a little workout. I did sit-ups, and everyone was like, ‘What’s this guy doing?’ I did a 30 min Kmart workout, then headed in for my audition.” Dumbbells, sit-ups, and a 30-minute Kmart workout later, he strutted into the audition. Talk about turning Tasmania travels into an impromptu workout routine!

Polyglot Pete: GaTa’s Multifaceted Prep

GaTa, the actor/rapper from “Dave,” delves into his role as Ben’s lively best friend, Pete. Gluck’s challenge led GaTa to learn Mandarin, Arabic, and the art of driving on the “wrong” side of Australian roads. “What attracted me to playing Pete was that he is lively in spirit and cultured,” GaTa says. “I had a lot of preparation, and shout out to Will Gluck for challenging and pushing me as an actor. I learned Mandarin and Arabic, and how to drive on the wrong side of the road in Australia. It was dope to be able to put those into my repertoire.” A shout-out to Gluck for pushing GaTa’s boundaries and adding these unexpected skills to his repertoire. Who knew a rom-com could turn into a language and driving lesson?

Onscreen Chemistry and Sisterly Bonds

Hadley Robinson (Little Women, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), playing Bea’s sister Halle, found her inspiration in her onscreen sibling, Alexandra Shipp’s Claudia. Their characters’ connection onscreen mirrored the camaraderie off-screen. Robinson gushes about Shipp’s infectious energy and readiness, creating a chemistry that resonated both in front of and behind the camera. “Alex made me smile every time I looked at her,” says Robinson. “She showed up with this great energy, always ready to go. Every single day at pickup, she’d stick her head out of the car window and say: ‘Let’s go, let’s do it!’ Halle and Claudia’s relationship is sweet and very special, and we have good chemistry.” Who wouldn’t want a co-star like that?

Rom-Com Wisdom from the Veterans

The younger cast members had the privilege of learning from rom-com legends Dermot Mulroney and Rachel Griffiths, who portray the parents, Leo and Innie. To set the mood, the cast gathered for a rom-com marathon, including the ’90s classic “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” Powell recalls Mulroney’s sage advice: “After we watched it as a cast,” recalls Powell, “Dermot looked at me and said, ‘Take this job seriously and take every moment seriously, because the beauty of being in a rom-com is, you represent love to people. Don’t take that lightly, because if you can represent love to people in movies, that’s the most beautiful thing you can do.”

Behind-the-Scenes Boss: Sydney Sweeney

Executive producer Sydney Sweeney took charge not only in front of the camera but also behind the scenes. Her preparations included curating the perfect team, convincing Gluck and Powell to join the project. Sweeney highlights Gluck’s quirky brilliance and Powell’s multifaceted charm, “I was really, really excited to work on this project with him… He is so quirky in his own way. I love it.” A boss move from a leading lady who knows what it takes to make a rom-com shine. Of Powell, she says, “Glen is handsome, charming, funny, talented, and thoughtful. He’s also an incredibly loyal friend and a true pro.”

Anyone But You, distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International, opens in cinemas January 17. #AnyoneButYou

_{Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”}