The off-screen drama of “Don’t Worry Darling” may be better than what happened on-screen.
Olivia Wilde’s psychological thriller film, which opened to tepid reviews after premiering Monday at the Venice Film Festival, has spawned near-constant gossip and speculation about fired stars, favoritism and finances.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Harry Styles and Chris Pine
With the cast finally back together for the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival Monday, Styles, who stars as Jack Chambers, a workaholic on the mysterious Victory Project who has found a perfect Stepford life for his wife Alice (Florence Pugh), walked into the theater and plopped himself next to co-star Chris Pine. But before he took his seat, the pop star appeared to spit at or on Pine, who was caught on camera looking down and chuckling. Not quite how most would react to a loogie but maybe it just looked like flying phlegm?
Harry Styles and Florence Pugh
The on-screen husband and wife have their own baggage, but so may the two actors who play them. Gossip about pay disparities and a considerably larger check for Styles ran rampant, and even though Wilde — the film’s director, producer and a co-star — disputed it as “invented clickbait,” she never actually revealed how much her two leads made. Styles is one of the biggest pop stars in the world but Pugh, whose resume includes “Midsommar,” “Little Women” and “Black Widow,” isn’t exactly a scrub.
Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde
Everyone here is a consenting adult but the romance between director and leading man that got hot and heavy shortly after filming began in October 2020 has drawn some raised eyebrows. Both have been mum about just how close these bonds really are, but the couple has been spotted on vacation together several times and the press tour has been one glowing quote after another.
“I think what you realize is that when you’re really happy, it doesn’t matter what strangers think about you,” Wilde told Vogue in a December cover story. “All that matters to you is what’s real, and what you love, and who you love.”
Olivia Wilde and Florence Pugh
Maybe there’s real drama. Maybe people just love to pit two women against each other. But something’s clearly going on between Olivia Wilde and Florence Pugh. Pugh skipped Monday’s press conference at Venice, citing a bad travel schedule from production on “Dune 2,” then rolled up to the red carpet in a glittery black number and a grin. But the pair did keep their distance in photos, always with a co-star or two as a border. Between the rumors about pay disparity, Wilde’s personal preference to Styles and some nasty leaked comments to Shia LaBeouf (more on that next), someone had something to worry about.
Wilde, though, shrugged it all off.
“As for all the endless tabloid gossip and all the noise out there, I mean, the internet feeds itself,” the sophomore director said at Monday’s press conference.
“I’m so grateful that she’s able to make it tonight despite being in production on ‘Dune.’ I know as a director how disruptive it is to lose an actor even for a day. So I’m very grateful to her and grateful to Denis Villeneuve for helping us. And we’re really thrilled we’ll get to celebrate her work tonight. I can’t say enough how honored I am to have her as our lead. She’s amazing in the film.”
Olivia Wilde and Shia LaBeouf
Styles, it turns out, wasn’t actually the first pick to play the suspiciously generous Jack Chambers. That honor went to Shia LaBeouf before he was ousted. In Wilde’s telling, she fired the “Even Stevens” alum to keep Pugh “safe” from his “combative behavior.” LaBeouf claims he quit “due to lack of rehearsal time,” then began leaking texts and videos he alleges prove that Wilde begged him to come back.
“I feel like I’m not ready to give up on this yet, and I, too, am heartbroken and I want to figure this out,” she said in a video from August 2020 that LaBeouf sent to Variety last month.
“You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us. If she really commits, if she really puts her mind and heart into it at this point and if you guys can make peace — and I respect your point of view, I respect hers — but if you guys can do it, what do you think? Is there hope? Will you let me know?”
LaBeouf has since been sued by ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs for sexual battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress amid ugly allegations of abuse during their relationship.
Wilde was asked about LaBeouf’s claims Monday, but a film festival staffer helpfully let her dodge the question.
