Sydney Sweeney on Why She Was Drawn to ‘The Players Table’
Sydney Sweeney may be best known for starring in high-profile movies and TV shows like Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and Sharp Objects, but the Euphoria star has more on the brain than just acting. In addition to being in front of the camera, Sweeney has expressed an interest in the business side of the entertainment industry. She is currently majoring in business and recently started her own production company called Fifty-Fifty Films.
“So excited to finally announce my company Fifty-Fifty Films and partner with @crazyrosefilms on my first project!” Sweeney wrote on her Instagram on July 31, 2020. “More to come ;)” she promised. For her first producing project, Sweeney has chosen The Players Table which is based on a book called They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman. But why did Sweeney want to get into producing anyway and how did she choose her first project?
Sydney Sweeney on ‘The Players Table’ and starting her production company
“Once I started learning more about the industry and all the different building blocks inside it, I knew I wanted to be a part of that building process and be more than just an actress,” Sweeney shared in an interview with Numero Mag. “I’ve always been drawn to the business side of conversations, so when I talked to my team about it they were really supportive and we came up with a plan. I wanted to find my own properties to create, so my agency started sending me books that were available to be produced. I read They Wish They Were Us aka The Player’s Table about a year ago and halfway through I knew I wanted it. I was drawn to Jill, the mystery, the diverse ensemble cast, and social themes that could be explored within it.”
As Sweeney well knows, having a production company will give her even more control over the type of movies and TV shows that end up on her acting resume. Funnily enough, when The Handmaid’s Tale star first started out in the industry she didn’t have much interest in doing TV shows. It was only through the changing landscape of the industry (thanks to streaming platforms) and the increasing popularity of limited series that Sweeney became more invested in TV.
Fifty-Fifty Films is off to a great start
Though The Players Table hasn’t yet begun production, it’s already receiving some hype. A large part of that is thanks to Sweeney’s co-producers, but some of the attention is thanks to one of Sweeney’s co-stars. Sweeney’s good friend, Halsey, will make her acting debut for the TV show. “The biggest secret I’ve ever kept,” Sweeney penned in September of 2020 when Halsey was announced as a co-star. “So excited to star alongside such a talented creative genius. can’t think of anyone I’d rather do this with #ThePlayersTable.”
Attaching Halsey to The Players Table was certainly the right move for Sweeney. The series has already found a home at HBO and fans are eager for more news. It’ll be interesting to see how the show performs and what movies and TV shows Sweeney attaches her production company to next.
