This was one of the hottest projects Hollywood has seen in years. 18 bidders. An up-and-coming female director. Now actress Florence Pugh flies upwards like a rocket. “don’t worry darling‘ was set to be a smash.
But now the $35 million production is being called “Kill Your Darlings” all over town. Over the past three weeks, the once highly anticipated film has become a spectacle in all the wrong ways, including self-immolation by its director, Olivia Wilde, on the road to publicity. It’s her one of only three films Warner Bros. will release in theaters this year.
The signs of trouble began to appear in March, when Wilde’s personal life became intertwined with her promotional activities on stage in Las Vegas. So the “Don’t Worry Darling” trailer she introduced was adopted by Process her server. present her with custody papers From her ex-fiancée, “Ted Russo” actor Jason Sudeikis.
It turned into internet gossip Pugh’s Lack of Substantial Promotion The film led to reports of clashes between the director and the star over a rumored affair between Wilde and pop star Harry Styles in his first major film role. (Wild refused to discuss the rumor beyond speaking. vanity fair The story that she left Sudeikis for Styles was “totally inaccurate.” variety She fired Shia LaBeouf. Shia LaBeouf was the first actor cast in the role that eventually went to Styles. LaBeouf challenges her account Both audio and video evidence support his claim that he quit.
The story peaked earlier this month at a tense press conference at the Venice Film Festival, which Pugh wasn’t in attendance for. I don’t feel the need to contribute. I think I have enough nutrition. “
Wilde declined to comment for this article and canceled a scheduled interview last week hours earlier.A representative for Pugh also declined to comment.
This scandal ranks pretty low on Hollywood’s rage meter. Stephen GallowayDean of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, and author of Truly, Madly, the tumultuous romance of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, he called the film “a messed up love affair.” expressed. But the “Don’t Worry Darling” situation is high-profile enough that it may have the power to dilute the excitement around Wilde’s potential rise as Hollywood’s bright new directorial talent.
The movie centers on Alice and Jack (Pew and Stiles). The idyllic existence of the 1950s is a couple deeply in love, contrary to a more ominous reality. Originally Carrie and Shane Van Dyke (grandson of Dick Van Dyke) blacklist, A compilation of the year’s best unproduced screenplays, “Don’t Worry Darling” was rewritten by Katie Silberman (Wilde’s “Booksmart”). It won the title thanks to Warner Bros. New Line division’s commitment to release the film theatrically, making it the subject of a bidding war.
Now set to hit over 2,000 theaters, Don’t Worry Darling is on the brink of failure. Based on pre-release research tracking consumer interest, box office experts had predicted ticket sales for the opening weekend to be around $20 million. Recently, those estimates have dropped to about $18 million. According to research, ticket sales he could be as high as $16 million. Warner Bros. declined to comment on its box office projections, but studio insiders, who weren’t authorized to talk about the record, said it was always expecting around $18 million and that interest hasn’t fluctuated. Stated.
Early reviews were not kind. Rotten Tomatoes is currently hovering at 38 for the film. percent score, headlong into the rotten category. Many critics have noted the scandal surrounding the film.Los Angeles Times critic Justin Chang wondered Would Alice be “a better stand-in for Wilde, a talented director trying to get out of the misogyny system and never blink twice at a male filmmaker in a similar position?”
Is the misogynistic response to tabloid controversy at work, as Chan suggested? Or maybe Hollywood will add Wilde, the daughter of journalist and documentarian Andrew and Leslie Cockburn, to a list of lives too short, and this episode will overshadow her talent. Will it drop? Given the rift with Pugh and her dispute with LaBeouf, it’s questionable whether the talented would want to work with Wilde in the future.
“There is a degree of sexism in this,” Galloway said. “Male directors have been doing this for decades. Part of me feels bad that she’s being judged by a different standard. There are modern standards,” he said. “
It’s not clear what Wild will do next. Following “Don’t Worry Darling,” she was due to release “Perfect,” about gymnast Kelly Strugg. However, according to three people with knowledge of the project, who have been granted anonymity to discuss the project’s status, Wilde spoke to various screenwriters before walking away, believing the script was not yet ready for production. After asking for a rewrite many times, the film was abandoned.
“This year has been very clear to me that it’s time for me to be a stay-at-home mom,” she told Variety.
She has two projects in early development. Marvel’s new film, which two insiders said was “Spider-Woman,” and the untitled Holiday Her comedy, which has been in production by Universal Pictures since 2019.
Some believe that the attention caused by the scandal could bring more moviegoers to theaters, following the adage that there is no such thing as a bad reputation.
Joe Quenqua, veteran strategic communications executive, said: .
Warner Bros. continues its own marketing strategy. The studio announced last week that his IMAX experience on Sept. 19, which includes film screenings and live Q&A sessions at 100 locations across the country, was the fastest-selling live event in IMAX history. .
Wild will appear. I don’t pew.