Photo / STEFANIA D’ALESSANDRO/WIREIMAGE
It’s rare that the behind-the-scenes aspect of the movie eclipses the actual film but that’s the case with Don’t Worry Darling.
The movie stars Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll, and Chris Pine. It is directed by Wilde.
It’s set in the 1950’s in a desert utopia called Victory, an experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. The men spend every day working on the “development of progressive materials” at headquarters, while wives enjoy the beauty and luxury of the town. Their needs are met by the company and all it asks is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause. Life is not what it seems and there is something sinister lurking beneath the perfect town.
The plot sounds intriguing but all people can talk about is the behind-the-scenes drama, with tension on set, an alleged firing, a damning video, and alleged spitting. Buckle up, girlies, because it’s a Wilde ride.
Olivia Wilde and Shia LaBeouf
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1. The hints of trouble started brewing when it was announced that Shia LaBeouf left Don’t Worry Darling before filming. The studio said it was a scheduling conflict. Styles went on to replace LaBeouf.
2. Wilde had an interview with Variety where she confirmed that LaBeouf was let go. She told the magazine, “His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions. He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances. I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job.”
3. Side story: A few months after LaBeouf left Don’t Worry Darling, his ex FKA Twigs sued him for sexual battery.
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4. Just two days later, LaBeouf reached out to Variety to deny Wilde’s claims. He sent the magazine two emails he says he sent to Wilde after her interview was released. It said, “You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors & I couldn’t find time to rehearse. I have included as a reminder the screenshots of our text exchange on that day, and my text to Tobey.” He added, “Firing me never took place, Olivia. And while I fully understand the attractiveness of pushing that story because of the current social landscape, the social currency that brings. It is not the truth.”
5. LaBeouf also shared a video to Variety of a video Wilde sent him. In the video, Wilde says, “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. 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?”
The Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles relationship
Photo / Backgrid
1. Rumors of a relationship between Wilde and Styles began brewing in January 2021 when the two were spotted attending a friend’s wedding holding hands. This comes after Wilde and Jason Sudeikis ended their seven-year engagement just two months before. Reports say that Wilde and Styles had an affair on set. The relationship will play a bigger role later, I promise.
2. Side story: Wilde was served custody papers from Sudeikis while she was on stage promoting Don’t Worry Darling at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Reports say that Sudeikis had nothing to do with the timing but that it was the company who decided to hand her the papers while she was speaking at the event.
Florence Pugh
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1. There is also a rumored feud between Pugh and Wilde. In 2020, she posted the news of her casting on Instagram with the caption, “@oliviawilde just tagged me in a picture *gasp no.1* @oliviawilde casted me in a film *gasp no.2* @oliviawilde is my idol and allowed me to be a part of this fecking incredible cast. Shia?!? Chris?!? *gasp no.3*.” She also said, “I can’t wait to join this project when all of this is over.”
2. Fans noted that her enthusiasm seemed to wane over time. When filming wrapped, Pugh posted a series of photos and praised the crew but failed to mention Wilde. She also ignored Wilde’s posts about her, including a tribute post and an Instagram story. Fans noted that Pugh reposted costar Gemma Chan and fashion designer Harris Reed’s Instagram stories celebrating her Harper’s Bazaar cover, but did not do the same for Wilde’s story. On the same day that the Don’t Worry Darling trailer came out, Pugh shared the poster of Oppenheimer, another film she is starring in.
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3. Reports claim that Pugh was not happy seeing Wilde and Styles being romantic on set. An insider told Page Six, “I can tell you for a fact that Flo seeing Olivia and Harry all over each other on set did not go down well as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry.”
3. It was speculated that Pugh was uncomfortable about how the film was sexualized. She told Harper’s Bazaar, “When it’s reduced to your sex scenes, or to watch the most famous man in the world go down on someone, it’s not why we do it. It’s not why I’m in this industry.” There are also rumors that Styles earned three times more than Pugh. Wilde denied this.
Shenanigans at the Venice International Film Festival
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1. Pugh decided not to join the press conference of Don’t Worry Darling. When asked about this, Wilde mentioned scheduling conflicts and a late-arriving flight.
2. The official story is that the actress will have to return to Budapest to film Dune: Part Two. Pugh, however, was seen in Venice walking around with a drink before the press conference ended. She will not be part of the Don’t Worry Darling premiere in New York due to scheduling conflicts.
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2. There is a video alleging that Styles spit on Chris Pine (swipe the Instagram post above).
3. Pine denied the incident. His spokesperson said, “This is a ridiculous story.”
4. Style spoke up about spitgate during a concert in New York City. He joked, “I just popped over to Venice to spit on Chris Pine but fear not, we’re back!”
5. During an interview with Styles and Pine, the singer/actor said, “My favorite thing about the movie is that it feels like a movie. It feels like a real, like, go to the theater film-movie — you know — the reason you go to watch on a big screen.” Pine was staring into space.
