All has not been well on the set of “Don’t Worry Darling,” set to be released September 23, 2022, and Olivia Wilde is at the center of this drama. Though the film has a lot of talent and Wilde has shown herself to be capable of producing her vision through her previous debut “Booksmart,” Wilde’s credibility as a director appears to be on the line: her actors are ill at ease with her management.
The controversy first came to light when fans started noticing the film’s main star, Florence Pugh, was not posting about the upcoming premier at the Venice Film Festival. Pugh has been very active on social media, and the promotion of each of her upcoming projects and has been followed closely since she grabbed attention for her roles in “Midsommar” (2019) and “Little Women” (2019).
Later, it was suggested that the conflict originated with the replacement of Pugh’s original costar, Shia LeBeouf, with Harry Styles. LeBeouf has been embroiled in allegations regarding sexual assault, and Wilde attempted to connect these allegations with his leaving the set, declaring she fired him due to the misconduct. In response he produced receipts to prove the statement was inaccurate and he left of his own accord because he felt there was not sufficient rehearsal time, according to Variety.
Another note of controversy is the emphasis on sex in the film. Wilde has declared that “female pleasure” is of keen importance to the story’s arc. In her interviews, Pugh stated firmly that there was depth to the film beyond the sex, but the image of the most famous man alive going down on a woman has been central to the release trailers.
While the reality remains to be seen, some critical reviews have stated that most of the sex in the film is non-consensual, which seems very strange in light of Wilde’s statements. The movie appears to be playing on the 1950’s aesthetics and exploring the feminine horror of living as a housewife during a time when the world was changing. The premise could appeal to audiences who enjoyed movies like the “Stepford Wives.” However, though the film employs many well loved names from Hollywood, because of all the conflict on set those same viewers might not feel comfortable supporting such a production.
As of right now, the film is ranked 38% by critics.
Art in film is a collaborative endeavor and the movie has potential, but given all the conflict, will moviegoers still want to see this drama play out on the big screen? Perhaps Wilde should be worried.
