Director Will Gluck Explains Why He Trimmed Nudity from 'One Night Only'

A Shift in Audience Preferences

The new romantic comedy One Night Only, starring Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro, underwent significant editing before hitting the big screen. Director Will Gluck recently shared that he made a conscious decision to scale back the amount of explicit content in the final film.

Speaking on the evolving landscape of cinematic intimacy, Gluck noted that modern audiences often feel uneasy when confronted with overt nudity in a theatrical setting.

“I believe it’s been a societal shift from taking nudity in adult situations and putting them on your phones at home for everybody. It’s more of a private, intimate thing that people don’t want to see when they’re in a shared experience. Whenever people now see nudity or very adult situations in a big theater, they get uncomfortable,”

Revising the Original Vision

The original script for the film, which explores a premise where premarital intimacy is temporarily legalized, was much more explicit. Gluck admitted that they had filmed extensive scenes of public intimacy to capture the chaotic energy of the movie's setting. However, as the team conducted test screenings, they realized these moments were proving to be a distraction.

“There was so much nudity in this movie that we shot on the streets. I felt we needed to show the world that way,” Gluck said. “As we started to show it to audiences, we felt it takes you out of the movie.”

Authenticity in Casting

The film centers on Allie (Barbaro) and Owen (Turner) as they navigate a chaotic night in New York City. To maintain authenticity in the background scenes, the production opted for a unique casting approach. “We cast real-life couples in various stages of relationships,” Gluck shared. The director noted that the background performers included everyone from married couples to those who were just beginning their relationships, adding a layer of genuine emotion to the film's backdrop.

Focusing on the Narrative

Despite the film's unconventional premise, Gluck emphasizes that the heart of the story remains the connection between the two leads. He wants the audience to focus on how Allie and Owen navigate their lives rather than getting caught up in the mechanics of the movie's fictional world. “These characters are living in this little alternative world that could easily happen… but I really wanted the world to live in the background. I didn’t want the movie to be about that,” he added. One Night Only is currently playing in theaters.