Much has been written about the strife — real or imagined — on the set of filmmaker Olivia Wilde’s buzzy Don’t Worry Darling in the last six months. There was gossip about her romance with co-star Harry Styles.
Shia LaBeouf, the initial main actor, left the project. Then there were allegations of squabbles between the director-actor and the film’s lead, Florence Pugh. Among these was a Vulture claim about the two women having a “screaming battle” on site, which was promptly repudiated in a statement signed by 40 members of the film’s crew and production team.
In an interview on the cover of Elle this month, Wilde said that the media frenzy has “raised my attention to the media and how it sets women against one another.”
“It is astonishing to witness so many untruths about oneself peddled as reality,” the filmmaker concluded. Florence made the astute observation that we did not sign up for a reality show.
And I love how she said that because it’s as if the general public believes that if you make anything to sell to the public, you’ve somehow accepted that your life would be ripped to pieces by a pack of wolves. No, it isn’t part of the job description. It never was.”
“This film is attempting to address huge issues, but it’s ‘Let’s just concentrate on this circus over here,'” she concluded.
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Here is What Olivia Wilde Shared?
Olivia Wilde may have helped the circus when she told Variety regarding LaBeouf’s departure in August, “His methodology was not conducive to the ethos that I require in my shows.”
He has a method that seems to need confrontational energy in certain aspects, which I don’t feel is conducive to the finest results. I think that the greatest approach to motivating individuals to accomplish their best job is to create a secure, trusting atmosphere. Finally, it is my obligation to safeguard the production and the performers. That was my responsibility.”
According to the magazine, “Wilde made the choice to terminate LaBeouf.” Shia was adamantly opposed. He handed Variety what he said were text exchanges between himself and the director, as well as a video in which she seemed to address on-set problems and utilize Pugh’s moniker.
“You know, I believe this could be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I’d want to know if you’re open to doing this with me, with us,” Wilde stated in the video. “What do you think if she truly 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 her point of view — but if you guys can do it?” Is there any hope? Will you notify me?”
Wilde subsequently told Stephen Colbert that she and LaBeouf may have both thoughts they were the ones to call it quits. She also said that LaBeouf’s tweets were taken out of context and were intended to “make the situation out to be something it wasn’t.”
When asked explicitly whether she dismissed LeBeouf, Wilde said, “We had to replace Shia.”
Wilde went on to explain that the actor coerced her into it.
“When he offered me the choice of him or Florence,” Wilde said.