Sydney Sweeney’s revelation about being bitten by a huntsman spider while filming her new rom-com Anyone But You has become the stuff of Hollywood legend. But her co-star Glen Powell sheds new light on the arachnid attack, revealing Sweeney was actually encouraged to provoke the spider. In a new interview, Powell explains how the fateful incident went down on set. Sweeney was tasked with shaking the spider to make it look real on camera. But agitating a live huntsman spider had painful consequences.
How Did Sydney Sweeney Get Bitten?
As per Entertainment Weekly, according to Glen Powell, when the giant spider was first brought out, it remained motionless on Sweeney’s hand. To make the scene look authentic, she was told to jostle the spider.
“So she’s having to do this insert shot where she’s shaking this spider and agitating it,” Powell recalled. “And I was like, ‘Why are we agitating this real huntsman spider?'”
The instruction to rile up the arachnid would prove to be an epic blunder. Sweeney’s screams of terror initially seemed like dedicated acting. But Powell realized something was wrong when her shrieks intensified.
“Sydney still has marks on her wrist from that huntsman spider,” he confirmed. “That was a legitimately scary moment for her on that set.”
While using real spiders may have added authenticity, clearly it jeopardized the cast’s safety. In the age of CGI, was it really necessary to put Sweeney in harm’s way?
Sydney Sweeney is reportedly still shaken from the bite months later. The haunting memory may impact her comfort level with insects on future sets.
Sydney Sweeney Soldiers On Despite Bite
To her credit, Sweeney persisted through the painful bite to finish filming the scene. But Powell said her blood-curdling screams were no act.
“I’m supposed to be screaming, but then my screaming got a little serious. They thought I was making really serious dramatic choices in a rom-com,” Sweeney told Jimmy Fallon.
The tearful actress had to convince the oblivious crew something was wrong. Powell realized what was happening, but Sweeney stayed in character despite her anguish.
Will The Incident Impact Sydney Sweeney’s Career?
While Sweeney has rebounded, her spider bite may make her more cautious when filming creature sequences going forward.
The Emmy nominee already endures grueling stunts on Euphoria. Adding arachnid anxiety to her list of on-set concerns could influence her choice of future roles.
But Sweeney has proven she’s a consummate professional who will endure a lot for the perfect take. She may emerge from Anyone But You stronger and more vigilant when acting alongside wildlife.
Frequently asked questions
How did Sydney Sweeney get bitten by a spider on set?
While filming an insert shot for Anyone But You, Sweeney was instructed to shake and agitate a real huntsman spider on her hand to make the scene look authentic, and it bit her.
Who revealed the story of Sydney Sweeney’s spider bite?
Co-star Glen Powell shared the details in an interview, recalling that Sweeney still had marks on her wrist afterward and calling it a legitimately scary moment on set.
Did the crew realize Sydney Sweeney was really hurt during filming?
Not at first. Sweeney told Jimmy Fallon that her screams turned genuinely serious, but the crew thought she was simply making a bold dramatic choice for the rom-com scene.
