Justin Chatwin is reflecting on his time working with Hayden Panettiere on Sleepwalker, the movie she filmed in early 2025 before its January 2026 release. In an interview with People published Aug. 17, Chatwin said Panettiere seemed different than when he had known her earlier in her career.
Chatwin said he could tell the actress was struggling, and he felt the issue was larger than the film itself. He also said Panettiere appeared to be lonely, though he recalled that they got along well during production.
The actor said Sleepwalker’s story about domestic abuse may have felt personal to Panettiere because of experiences she had previously discussed. He described her as open with him about her life, including her struggles with addiction.
Panettiere died Aug. 16 after responders were called to a home in Greenville, South Carolina, where she was found in cardiac arrest, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office statement obtained by E! News. Her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, later confirmed her death in a statement to ABC News.
