Olivia Wilde, director of Don't Worry Darling, reveals that the Motion Picture Association forced her to cut scenes out of the trailer for the film. Wilde is an actor known for past films such as A Vigilante, The Lazarus Effect, and Her, as well as a director who made her feature film directorial debut with Booksmart in 2019. Booksmart received rave reviews for its laugh-out-loud moments spurred on by stellar performances from Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever.
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The first Don't Worry Darling trailer was released on May 2, setting the stage for the twisty 1950s-set thriller. The film stars Florence Pugh as housewife Alice Chambers, who embarks on a mysterious social experiment with her husband, Jack (played by Harry Styles). The trailer starts with an upbeat 1950s party and transitions to a more ominous tone partway through. In addition to establishing its central mystery, the Don't Worry Darling trailer also includes a brief moment in which Alice is seen receiving oral sex from Jack on top of a dining table.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Wilde discusses her initial vision for the film's trailer. She reveals that the original cut of Don't Worry Darling's teaser, the one she wanted audiences to see, had several scenes that were eventually taken out due to the MPA's demands. A full quote from Wilde can be read below:
There’s a lot that had to be taken out of the trailer. The MPA came down hard on me and the trailer at the last second and I had to cut some shots, which I was upset about because I thought they it took it up another notch. But of course we still live in a really puritanical society. I do think the lack of eroticism in American film is kind of new. Then when it comes to female pleasure, it’s something that we just don’t see very often unless you’re talking about queer cinema. You know, it’s interesting because in a lot of queer films, the female characters are allowed to have more pleasure. Audiences aren’t as puritanical as corporations think they are. And yet people get upset. I mean, people are upset with me already over this. I think it’s a testament to the film. We want to be provocative. The idea is not to make you feel safe.
It makes sense that Wilde would be upset at making creative changes to a trailer due to the MPA deeming parts unsuitable to be seen by the public, especially considering that the director has been very open about wanting Don't Worry Darling to celebrate sex positivity. Besides this, directors put a lot of work into their films, but that work may all be for naught if the marketing for the film does not attract viewers to theaters. Although the Don't Worry Darling trailer ultimately does not include several shots that Wilde had hoped would spark interest in viewers, she hasn't been shy in promoting exactly what the film is supposed to feature. By commenting on this publicly, Wilde has found another way to drum up interest for Don't Worry Darling.
Wilde's explanation that the film's sensuality is something that was intentionally crafted, as well as the fact that the MPA censored the original cut of the trailer, may inadvertently create more intrigue among viewers regarding what scenes were rejected. Besides this, how well the eroticism of Don't Worry Darling blends in with its plot, and whether it is able to create more well-rounded character development, will have to be seen. The new film also offers viewers the chance to see whether it will live up to the high standard that Wilde set for herself as a director with Booksmart.
Sources: The Associated Press