First reported by The Hollywood Reporter in 2020, The Players Table is an adaptation of Jessica Goodman's bestselling young adult novel, They Wish They Were Us. The story delves into the secretive world of an elite Long Island prep school, where Sweeney is set to portray Jill Newman, a senior determined to uncover the truth behind her best friend's death three years prior. Singer Halsey was also initially attached to co-star as Rachel Calloway and collaborate on the series' development, marking what would have been her acting debut. By 2021, Deadline confirmed that the series was officially in development at HBO Max, now simply Max.

The journey to the screen for The Players Table has been far from smooth, encountering several significant hurdles. One major setback was the unexpected passing of acclaimed director Jean-Marc Vallée, who was involved with a company collaborating on the project. Halsey commented on the impact of this loss, stating on the Sprout podcast, "We’re taking our time with it because I think we have a lot of—there’s a lot of incentive to make it as best as it can possibly be for him and in honor of him." Further delays mounted with the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, which Sweeney herself noted to Teen Vogue had stalled her progress after penning three episodes. Concurrent with these challenges, Sweeney's meteoric rise in Hollywood, featuring prominent roles in films like Madame Web, The Housemaid, and the recently released Immaculate, meant her schedule became increasingly demanding.

Despite the prolonged silence, Sweeney recently reignited hopes for the series at the 2024 SXSW premiere of Immaculate. When asked by Collider's Perri Nemiroff if The Players Table still had a future, Sweeney unequivocally confirmed, "Yes there is." Her enthusiasm for the project remains high, as she elaborated on its appeal: "I think there's a lot of different themes and characters that will play into our generation and I think that there's going to be the mystery, the thrills. I also love a good, like soapy drama. So I think people will want to eat it up."

Sweeney's portrayal of Jill Newman promises a compelling contrast to her iconic role as Cassie Howard in Euphoria. While both characters share superficial similarities as popular, attractive young women, their core motivations diverge significantly. Cassie often found herself defined by her relationships and a degree of passivity, but Jill is depicted as a proactive individual, driven by a quest for truth and justice within a dark, mysterious narrative. With Sweeney now 29, the question of her playing a high school senior might raise eyebrows, but her track record suggests an ability to embrace diverse and challenging roles. Film and TV fans, as reported by ScreenRant, eagerly await the opportunity to see The Players Table brought to fruition and compare these fascinating characters firsthand.