The Surprising Literary Inspiration Behind Anyone But You

ROm-com fans, rejoice: Nobody but you has finally arrived on streaming. The big hit, released in theaters in December, stars EuphoriaIt’s Sydney Sweeney and Top Gun MaverickGlen Powell (although romantic comedy fans may know him better from Netflix Set it up). The R-rated enemies to lovers film became a surprise box office hit thanks to a clever social media campaign and rumors of an off-screen romance (which Sweeney called “obviously not true”). The film also stars BarbieAlexandra Shipp, Brothers Sisters‘Rachel Griffiths, Darren Barnet’ I never, Michelle Hurd from Star Trek: Picardand romantic comedy royalty Dermot Mulroney, aka the object of Julia Roberts’ obsessive affection in My best friendin Marriage.

Although film studios have not invested in so many romances lately and theatrical options were dominated by franchises and spin-offs, fans were apparently eager to indulge in a light comedy, helping Nobody but you become a slow-burning success. Director Will Gluck says that while many modern romantic comedies have gone straight to streaming, Nobody but you benefited from being shown in theaters. “I think a big part of our movie was how people felt watching it with other people in the theater,” he told the Hollywood news reporter.

There is also the added advantage that the film comes from an original script, but full of literary references. More specifically, it borrows from the characters and plot of So much noise for nothing. And Shakespeare, of course, has been popular with audiences for over 400 years. It’s hard to argue with this track record!

Here’s what you should know about the film’s months-long rise and the Shakespearean references sprinkled throughout the film.

What is the plot of Nobody but you?

The story follows Bea (Sweeney) and Ben (Powell), who have a cute, adorable encounter at a coffee shop, involving a rule-following employee, bread for grilled cheese night, and a hand dryer pointed at an unfortunate damp spot. followed by a memorable date that ends in disaster. The two coincidentally meet again on their way to a wedding in Australia, where Ben’s friend and Bea’s sister are getting married. Faced with Bea’s aggressive family and her two ex-boyfriends conveniently waiting in the wings, in true romantic comedy fashion, they decide they must fake a relationship in order to survive their marriage.

AND Nobody but you based on a book?

The plot of the romantic comedy is loosely inspired by the work of William Shakespeare So much noise for nothing, in which Benedick and Beatrice represent the now stereotypical enemies of the lovers trope, which has since inspired the stories of countless romance books and films. In both the play and the film, an initial courtship goes wrong, leaving the pair fighting a “merry war” of words. It’s not just the plot that is borrowed from The Bard: the names of the protagonists are clearly also inspired by Shakespeare. Screenwriter Ilana Wolpert, previously best known for her work on High School Musical: The Musical: The Seriestook Shakespeare’s play and updated it into a modern romantic comedy.

“So much noise for nothing is my favorite Shakespeare play, and I kept coming back to it in school, even throughout my college studies,” Wolpert told his former student papeA. “There’s so much farce, so much humor and so many great characters. It’s about family and friendship, but also a battle of wits and gender. It really is a wonderful piece. I always thought it would make an incredible film.”

Sweeney and producer Jeff Kirschenbaum liked the script enough to begin shopping it around to studios with Sweeney on board to play Bea. “Ilana put such a cool, modern spin on Shakespeare that I felt like I was reading an early 2000s romantic comedy,” said Sweeney. to New York Times. “I loved wanting to be kissed in the rain, wanting to fall in love as soon as I finished reading the script, wanting to cry, laugh, feel all the sensations.”

Sweeney and Kirschenbaum brought in Gluck, who had previously directed Emma Stone in Easy A and Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis in Friends with benefits. Gluck reworked the script before taking on the role of director. Both Gluck and Wolpert are credited as writers on the film, but Shakespeare’s influence is present throughout, in ways subtle and decidedly not.

At a certain point, as ScreenRant NotesBea passes a mural printed with a phrase from Shakespeare’s work Cheese and guava, “Here there is a lot to do with hate, but more to do with love.” Later, someone wrote in the sand the lines “Lighten the hook well; This fish is going to bite.” This comes from the second act of So much noise for nothing, where two characters are spreading a rumor that Beatrice is desperately in love with Benedick, who happens to be eavesdropping on their conversation. Nobody but you There are many listening scenes as the characters try, with humor, to convince Bea and Ben to fall in or out of love.

At one point, the camera pans to a bedside table where someone is reading a book titled Men have always been deceitful, which is a novel by Patricia Veryan and a line from Shakespeare’s play. To really drive home what I mean, in the film’s final montage, while Natasha Bedingfield’s 2004 single “Unwriting” plays, Ben and Bea dance under a huge sign that says “Much Ado About Nothing.”

Where can you stream Nobody but you?

Nobody but you was initially released in theaters just in time for Christmas on December 22nd. It was then released for rent or purchase on YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. On March 19, Netflix announced that the film would be available to stream starting April 23 for all subscribers.

A Netflix UK release date has not yet been confirmed, but the film is currently available to rent or buy in the UK via Prime Video and iTunes, via Digital Spy.

How it was Nobody but you become a box office success?

Despite a trailer that was shown in theaters before Taylor Swift’s film Ages Tour, Nobody but you didn’t garner much buzz, critical praise, or box office success during its first week. “I kept my expectations low, and in retrospect, not low enough,” Gluck told Times about the film’s $8 million opening weekend. But that disappointing first-week performance wasn’t indicative of the film’s future.

TikTok was soon flooded with videos of fans reenacting the film’s credits sequence, dancing and singing snippets of “Unwriting,” which plays a key role in the film. Rumors of an off-screen romance between Powell and Sweeney helped create more buzz, which was fueled by the actors’ friendly behavior on the publicity tour, even as they both denied their veracity. In addition to denying rumors during Sweeney’s, Saturday night live appearancethe two stars created a TikTok video where they whispered to each other, a clip that has racked up 18 million views, far surpassing the 10 million views of the film’s official trailer, according to Hollywood news reporter. Soon the film was placed in the top five at the US box office, remaining there every weekend until the end of January. In February, the film was re-released for Valentine’s Day with extra scenes per Variety. It ended up raising more than US$200 million globally with what Variety reports it was a budget of US$25 million.

There will be a sequel to Nobody but you?

Although no sequel was officially announced during Sweeney’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in February, the actor provoked fans with the possibility of her reuniting with Powell for another romance.

“Fans are waiting for a sequel, do you think maybe we will see a sequel?” Fallon asked her. “Maybe a high chance of nine,” Sweeney told an enthusiastic audience.

Unfortunately, the studio may not be as enthusiastic about the idea. Tom Rothman, chairman and chief executive of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group told New York Times that they might have other ideas for the duo. “Not that we wouldn’t consider a sequel — obviously we would,” Rothman said. “But I think perhaps the healthiest opportunity would be another original starring both of them.” Although the future may not contain a Anyone But You, Part II, perhaps Sweeney and Powell could be this era’s Goldie Hawk and Kurt Russell or Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.