Fresh from the success of her directorial debut with 2019's Booksmart, Olivia Wilde's next feature, Don't Worry Darling, has generated quite the stir on the Internet, but probably not as anticipated.
Starring Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Black Widow) and Harry Styles (who has been steadily increasing his Hollywood presence) in leading roles, the film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival yesterday, September 5,Β and follows the story of a housewife as she starts to suspect that her husband is hiding disturbing secrets while living in an experimental community.Β
Hereβs the trailer for Don't Worry Darling:
Since its announcement, the psychological thriller has rumoured to have been through a wide range of disputes and quarrels over a variety of different reasons including recastings, on-set romances as well as wage gaps.Β
Hereβs a rundown of all we know about the Donβt Worry DarlingΒ feud:
July 2019: The film is announced, with Wilde speculated to direct and star in it.
Early 2020: Wilde parts ways with her partner and Ted Lasso star, Jason Sudeikis, having been together for nine years and had two children.
April 2020: The cast for the film is announced, with Florence Pugh set to star alongside Shia LaBeouf in the lead roles. Pugh is ecstatic to get to work with Wilde.
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September 2020: Shia LaBeouf parts ways with the film for what is claimed to be βscheduling conflictsβ. He is replaced with the pop icon and Dunkirk star Harry Styles.
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December 2020: LaBeouf is sued by his former partner FKA Twigs for sexual battery and assualt. He denies every claim.Β
FKA twigs has filed a lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf accusing him of sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress.
β DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 11, 2020
(Source: https://t.co/SsBuQtM1xm) pic.twitter.com/J2KgkDafzU
the fact that shia labeouf has a history of racism on top of violence makes me even more concerned for what else fka twigs endured in their relationship that we don't even know about. i hope that the trial brings her peace and that shia gets shunned from hollywood for forever. pic.twitter.com/sUVH7xlPgZ
β isabelle (@cokebeheaded) September 5, 2022
βLaBeouf drove maniacally, removing his seat beat and threatening to crash the car [β¦] While in the gas station parking lot, he threw Tahliah against the car and attempted to strange her violently while screaming in her face.β β FKA Twigsβ 2020 lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf https://t.co/sndakjB6a6
β Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge) August 31, 2022
January 2021: Rumours begin to surface about Wilde and Styles's romantic involvement.Β
some pictures of harry styles and olivia wilde walking down the london streets on their romantic dates pic.twitter.com/QMMcU9QygJ
β bigger than zoe (@louillicit) April 20, 2021
Harry Styles, 27, and girlfriend Olivia Wilde, 37, passionately kiss while enjoying a romantic day onboard a yacht in Tuscany https://t.co/v4tJAQDilA pic.twitter.com/ZdU9kNIsHs
β Linda Ikeji (@lindaikeji) July 6, 2021
February 2021: The film wraps production. Wildeβs remarks on Stylesβs performance draws criticism for taking away from Pughβs role in the film. Pugh also remarks on everyoneβs contribution in a social media post, but does not mention Wildeβs name.Β
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Theories began to surface online that Pugh was distraught over the on-set romance between Styles and Wilde, and lacked professionalism during production.Β
itβs a long story but the gist of it is that allegedly Florence Pugh was unhappy with Olivia Wilde shirking her responsibilities as a director to pursue Harry Styles on set, and for doing so while still engaged to Jason Sudeikisβ¦
β may (@creepertastic) September 5, 2022
No the unprofessional part is @oliviawilde screwing Harry Styles while she had her finance Jason Sudeikis visiting the set with her kids. Sheβs boycotting that and good for Florence to call out the situation. Thatβs why sheβs the boss. pic.twitter.com/HAti0QEcFg
β Amy D. (@amyd2416) September 5, 2022
April 2022: Wilde is served custody papers from Jason Sudeikis while onstage introducing the film in front of a crowd.
The actress/director received custody papers from ex-fiancΓ© Jason Sudeikis onstage while presenting at #CinemaCon for her movie βDonβt Worry Darlingβ starring #HarryStyles and #FlorencePugh.
β Fly FM π²πΎ (@FlyFM958) April 28, 2022
(Source: ENews) #dontworrydarling #oliviawilde pic.twitter.com/o88IDd4lIy
August 24, 2022: Amid rumours of apparent pay disparities between the two leads, Wilde quashes these claims and denies speculationΒ that Styles had been paid three times as much as Pugh in wages.Β
We've got a new legend meme π.#DontWorryDarling #HarryStylesLoveOnTour #harrystyles #HarryStylesLoveOnTourWarszawa #HSLOTMSG #hslot pic.twitter.com/2mVjFnFgrC
β Lilybellecorner (@BiThMDuyn4) September 3, 2022
August 24, 2022: Wilde claims she fired Shia LaBeouf from the production to make sure Pugh felt safe in her work environment.
So now that we've established that the Olivia Wilde situation was before the FKA Twigs revelations and she meant 'natural' when saying 'safe environment', let's focus on this asshole instead. https://t.co/wxiTjq0xQH
β Phoenix is my name (@JackyGoodKnight) August 31, 2022
Olivia Wilde : (vaguely and never directly exaggerates her role in his exit from her film)
β Phantom (@effoff1988) August 28, 2022
Twitter : DEVIL WOMAN!
Shia LaBeouf : (terrorised women verbally, physically sexually)
Industry : Aw and they told on you, you poor thing ? Here is a role in the new Coppola film then. https://t.co/ezelhkKqsM
August 26, 2022: LaBeouf denies Wildeβs claims entirely, stating that he left production only because he did not find time to rehearse. He also leaks messages and videos between the two of them in which Wilde is apparently βheartbrokenβ over his exit.
After Olivia Wilde claimed Shia LaBeouf was fired from her movie βDon't Worry Darling,β a video of her asking the actor to reconsider his decision to leave the film has leaked.
β Pop Base (@PopBase) August 26, 2022
He was originally set to play Harry Stylesβ role alongside Florence Pugh.
pic.twitter.com/zGSfm8N0Wj
What I see in that video Shia LaBeouf leaked is a woman in an incredibly awkward position of power trying to make a conciliatory gesture toward a dude who is acting like a child. Iβve been in that position. It absolutely sucks.
β Erika Thorkelson (@ethorkel) September 6, 2022
Shia Labeouf is a genius ππ The way heβs quietly controlling the narrative by leaking contextless texts so that people focus on dragging the women while he gets to enjoy his time at Venice completely unbothered
β ratbert hate account (@kiwiburnerr) September 5, 2022
September 5, 2022: The cast and crew of Donβt Worry Darling arrive at the Venice premiere but rumour has it that Pugh would not be attending the press conference for the film, citing scheduling conflicts for the sequel to Denis Villeneuveβs Dune.Β
AND THEN SHE DIDNβT ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE BUT SHOWED UP ABSOLUTELY OWNING THAT RED CARPET #DontWorryDarling #FlorencePugh pic.twitter.com/w2booQ3YLM
β alina πΊπ¦π (@alittlebitalina) September 5, 2022
As the world premiere of βDonβt Worry Darlingβ at #Venice79 approaches, a new report revealed that while #FlorencePugh is fulfilling her obligation to attend the event, she will not be attending the press conference to promote the film. More details: https://t.co/1k3VhMlP20 pic.twitter.com/jpCBjgcf4T
β IndieWire (@IndieWire) September 5, 2022
Wilde addresses the all these rumours at the conference saying,
She also added,
Well, I just tried to ask Olivia Wilde a question about Shia LaBeouf at the DON'T WORRY DARLING press conference, but the festival wouldn't let me. #Venezia79
β Alex Ritman (@alexritman) September 5, 2022
September 5, 2022:Β In group photos at the red carpet event, co-star Chris Pine strategically placed himself between Olivia and Florence, while Sydney Chandler conveniently stood between Olivia and Harry.
Meanwhile, the internet seems to be having a field day surrounding Chris Pine unwillingly being dragged into the middle of this drama, with many noting that he seems to have dissociated from the mess altogether.
Iβve been a diehard Chris Pine fan for nearly 20 years now so I consider myself something of an expert, and I can confidently say he is reconsidering all his life choices hereβ¦ literally dissociating from his surroundings https://t.co/RZujeSveoo
β may (@creepertastic) September 5, 2022
chris pine during #DontWorryDarling press conference issa whole mood pic.twitter.com/yryNf1gQGd
β elsa (@mcclafloy) September 5, 2022
why does chris pine look like heβs about to unwillingly train some tributes for the 74th hunger games rn pic.twitter.com/emfofQ8NCd
β 2 π‘π (@sweetsatelIite) September 5, 2022
weβre witnessing chris pine going through his joker moment in real time pic.twitter.com/NpI8Owv4xy
β franklin (@leohoratio) September 5, 2022
chris pine putting on his sunglasses as the lights cut⦠oh that man is taking a nap pic.twitter.com/e1fN4EXFfs
β mirrorball π (@tracesofswift) September 5, 2022
chris pine at the donβt worry darling press conference pic.twitter.com/qdLzOmEAZm
β franklin (@leohoratio) September 5, 2022
I don't care if the Don't Worry Darling cast and crew goes full battle royale as long as Florence Pugh and Chris Pine are getting along. pic.twitter.com/tRCAuSlJ11
β Jamie Jirak (@JamieCinematics) September 5, 2022
However, tensions seem to have escalated, with the latest video doing its rounds on the Internet showcasing Harry Styles seemingly spitting at Pine before taking his seat at the filmβs premiere, ostensibly for having seated himself between Wilde and Styles at the event.
#HarryStyles appears to spit on Chris Pine i won't sleep until i know the truth pic.twitter.com/wLXjIHTYgU
β JZMaclin (@Mac70J) September 6, 2022
And though no publicity is said to be bad publicity, the film has been panned by critics and audience alike in the hours since its premiere, currently holding a 38% βrottenβ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Β
βDon't Worry Darlingβ officially debuts with a score of 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 18 reviews. pic.twitter.com/xzXYgAEdfR
β Pop Base (@PopBase) September 5, 2022
THE MINIONS MOVIE GOT A HIGHER METACRITIC SCORE THAN DONT WORRY DARLING
β percy π || who the fuck is gonna stop us? (@percystardust) September 5, 2022
SO FLORENCE PUGH DIDN'T LIKE OLIVIA WILDE HOOKING UP WITH HARRY STYLES BECAUSE SHE'S FRIENDS WITH OLIVIA'S HUSBAND JASON SUDEIKIS SO FLORENCE WOULDN'T PROMOTE THE MOVIE. THEN SHIA LEBEOUF LEAKED A VIDEO OF OLIVIA CALLING FLORENCE "MISS FLO" & NOW HARRY SPIT ON CHRIS PINE, BUT... pic.twitter.com/H3NxkEavxQ
β Uncle Johnny π³οΈβπ (@MvelaseP) September 6, 2022
For those still curious and way too invested in the drama that has enveloped this film: Don't worry, darling -Β the filmΒ is slated for a September 30, 2022 theatrical release.