With Olivia Wilde's second directorial effort, Don't Worry Darling, just around the corner, the director speaks out in defense of star Florence Pugh, for missing a press conference for the film in Venice earlier this week. Also starring Harry Styles, Chris Pine and Wilde herself, the film is expected to be a disturbing drama/thriller set in a 1950s experimental utopian community.
Alongside recent rumors concerning a feud between Wilde and Pugh, the film has been plagued by multiple controversies, including Shia LaBeouf's exit/firing from the production and rumors about whether Wilde actually directed the project in its entirety. Wilde's directorial debut, Booksmart, was incredibly popular upon release in 2019, and with its star-studded cast, Don't Worry Darling has become one of the most hotly anticipated films of 2022. The rumors of drama and conflict within the production have only stoked interest, garnering the project a great deal of attention before it is even released, but how this may affect Don't Worry Darling's box office is yet to be seen.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
Wilde herself has certainly remained confident in the film, firing back at the speculative criticisms aimed towards her, and she now comes to the defense of Pugh for her decision not to do press for the movie. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Wilde clears up the rumor of a feud between herself and Pugh, continuing to show faith in her film and the team around her. See what she has to say below:
Florence is one of the most in-demand actresses in the universe. She’s on set on Dune. I gather that some people expect for her to be engaging more on social media. I didn’t hire her to post. I hired her to act. She fulfilled every single expectation I had of her. That’s all that matters to me.
[…]
Florence’s performance in this film is astounding. It’s just baffling to me that the media would rather focus on baseless rumors and gossip, thereby overshadowing her profound talent. She deserves more than that. As does the movie, and everyone who worked so hard on it.
If the director's opinion is shared by audiences upon the release of Don't Worry Darling, it seems like Pugh is once again going to prove why she is such a sought-after star in Hollywood today. It is interesting that Wilde highlights the expectation for modern acting talents to have constant media presence, with their actual work on-screen considered secondary to their star persona. If Pugh's performance is the triumph that Wilde seems so proud to have worked alongside, these rumors will certainly fade to obscurity long before the praise does.
One thing that appears to have been a constant frustration for Wilde throughout the growing rumor mill surrounding Don't Worry Darling is the idea of the media sidelining the powerful image of a largely female-lead production by focusing on press that undermines the integrity of the relationships among the cast and crew. By now, Wilde seems fed up with having to defend herself and her colleagues from speculation that has either little evidence behind it, or nothing at all to do with the film itself. Admirably, despite this pressure, her voice remains solely focussed on her amazement at the talents that surrounded her throughout production. Fans can hopefully share in the director's excitement later this month by stepping away from the rumor mill and joining the audience for the much-anticipated Don't Worry Darling.