Rows over casting, pay disputes and a marriage break down: How off-screen dramas are already more gripping than psych thriller Don’t Worry Darling starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh before it’s even been released
- Don’t Worry Darling directed by Olivia Wilde will premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Monday
- The project has been plagued with controversy surrounding its cast during the two years of production
- Shia LaBeouf was originally cast as the lead but Wilde said she fired him due to his ‘energy’ which he denies
- He was replaced by Harry Styles who struck up a romance with Wilde, allegedly angering Florence Pugh
It is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, boasting an A-list cast and director in a gritty new psychological thriller that will premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Monday.
But the off-screen drama surrounding Don’t Worry Darling starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh already appears more captivating than the plot of the Hollywood blockbuster, released in US cinemas on September 23.
The Olivia Wilde project has stoked rivalries between its co-stars, led to mudslinging allegations from the former lead actor, and even sparked an unlikely romance amid a high-profile divorce.
The rows have threatened to overshadow the film, such is the draw and loyal fandom surrounding popstar Styles who was hoping the role would transform him into a credible Hollywood leading man.
The former One Directioner replaced Shia LaBeouf in the role of Jack Chambers who has a mysterious job and lives in an experimental community in the 1950s with devoted housewife Alice, played by Pugh.
Last week, writer and director Wilde said LaBeouf’s ‘combative’ energy led to his firing, but he hit back, claiming he quit and a bombshell video leaked of her pleading with him to return while making a swipe at her lead actress ‘Miss Flo’.
The recasting worked in Wilde’s favour, as sparks flew between her and Styles on set, around the time of her split from Jason Sudeikis who would end up serving her divorce papers on stage while she presented the film at CinemaCon in April.
But the decision to give the role to Styles, whose only previous acting experience was a minor role in Dunkirk, angered Pugh, particularly when she learned he was earning more than her.
Such is her displeasure, the Little Women star is refusing to do press for the film and feels particularly aggrieved about having to do sex scenes with the pin-up popstar.
Here, MailOnline gives a full rundown of all the controversies surrounding the project.
Harry Styles stars alongside Florence Pugh in Olivia Wilde’s new film Don’t Worry Darling which has been plagued with off-screen dramas
Shia LaBeouf’s row with Olivia Wilde
LaBeouf, who is known as something of a hothead and has been accused of abuse by ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs was first cast as the male lead, with Wilde due to play the female lead.
She changed tack and cast Pugh instead as the dutiful housewife, and in September 2020, LaBeouf was mysteriously axed from the project, to be replaced by Styles.
The popstar was initially considered for the role but had to turn it down due to tour commitments, but due to Covid he was able to take the part.
It was reported at the time that LaBeouf dropped out of the role due to scheduling conflicts.
Variety later reported in December that he was actually fired from the film, as his ‘off-putting’ style clashed with the cast and crew, ultimately violating Wilde’s ‘zero a**hole policy.’
‘I quit your film’: Shia LaBeouf has denied he was fired from Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling and provides evidence of the director allegedly BEGGING him to stay amid tensions with co-star Florence Pugh
A post shared by PROBLEMATIC FAME (@problematicfame)
A source close to the production said of the former Disney Channel star: ‘He is not an easy guy to work with.’
Last week, during promotion, Wilde added fuel to the fire, saying: ‘I say this as someone who is such an admirer of his work. His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions.
‘He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances.
Shia LaBeouf’s damning email to Olivia Wilde
Sent Wednesday 24th August
Olivia,
I hope this finds you inspired, purposeful, fulfilled & well. I pray every night that you & your family have health, happiness, & everything God would give me. No joke, every night before I sleep.
I have a little girl, Isabel; she is five months old and just beginning to develop the last half of her laugh; it’s AMAZING. Mia, my wife & I have found each other again & are journeying toward a healthy family with love and mutual respect.
I have embarked on a journey that feels redemptive & righteous (dirty word but fitting). I write to you now with 627 days of sobriety and a moral compass that never existed before my great humbling that was the last year and a quarter of my life. I reached out to you a few months ago to make amends; & I still pray one day, you can find space in your heart to forgive me for the failed collaboration we shared.
What inspired this email today is your latest Variety story. I am greatly honored by your words on my work; thank you, that felt good to read. I am a little confused about the narrative that I was fired, however. You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors & I couldn’t find time to rehearse. I have included as a reminder the screenshots of our text exchange on that day, and my text to Tobey.
I know that you are beginning your press run for DWD and that the news of my firing is attractive clickbait, as I am still persona-non-grata and may remain as such for the rest of my life. But, speaking of my daughter, I often think about the news articles she will read when she is literate. And though I owe, and will owe for the rest of my life, I only owe for my actions.
My failings with Twigs are fundamental and real, but they are not the narrative that has been presented. There is a time and a place to deal with such things, and I am trying to navigate a nuanced situation with respect for her and the truth, hence my silence. But this situation with your film and my ‘firing’ will never have a court date with which to deal with the facts. If lies are repeated enough in the public they become truth. And so, it makes it that much harder for me to crawl out of the hole I have dug with my behaviors, to be able to provide for my family.
Firing me never took place, Olivia. And while I fully understand the attractiveness of pushing that story because of the current social landscape, the social currency that brings. It is not the truth. So I am humbly asking, as a person with an eye toward making things right, that you correct the narrative as best you can. I hope none of this negatively effects you, and that your film is successful in all the ways you want it to be.
Every Blessing To You,
Shia
‘I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job.’
After he was let go from the film, LaBeouf’s ex-girlfriend sued him for sexual battery, he split with his talent agency CAA and began receiving inpatient care.
‘A lot came to light after this happened that really troubled me, in terms of his behavior,’ Wilde added. ‘I find myself just really wishing him health and evolution because I believe in restorative justice.’
For this specific film, she pointed out that the cast ‘really needed’ energy ‘that was incredibly supportive.’
Alluding to the movie’s sex scenes, Wilde stated: ‘I knew that I was going to be asking Florence [Pugh] to be in very vulnerable situations, and my priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported.’
Sensationally, LaBeouf fired back at Wilde last week and denied he quit, as a video of her pleading with him to return to the project was leaked online.
LaBeouf claims he ‘quit the film due to lack of rehearsal time’ on August 17 in 2020, and forwarded Variety two emails that he claims he recently sent to Wilde.
In his messages to Wilde, LaBeouf states: ‘You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors and I couldn’t find time to rehearse.’
In the email, he references his troubled relationship with singer FKA Twigs, who has accused the actor of ‘sexual battery’ in a lawsuit, which he has denied, and also spoke of his daughter Isabel who he shares with partner Mia Goth.
Some studio sources have claimed to the publication that LaBeouf had been fired, while another said it was down to a ‘collective recognition that LaBeouf’s style of acting wasn’t a good fit for Wilde’s approach as a director.’
Variety reports that LaBeouf sent the publication screenshots of his conversations with Wilde, which claim they met in person to discuss his exit from the project.
Wilde allegedly texted the actor: ‘Thanks for letting me in on your thought process. I know that isn’t fun. Doesn’t feel good to say no to someone, and I respect your honesty.’
‘I’m honored you were willing to go there with me, for me to tell a story with you. I’m gutted because it could have been something special. I want to make clear how much it means to me that you trust me. That’s a gift I’ll take with me.’
LaBeouf then claims to the trade outlet that he ‘officially’ quit the film the following day after their conversation in August 2020.
As well as texts, LaBeouf reportedly provided Variety with a video that Wilde allegedly sent him on August 19th 2020, two days after he is said to have quit.
Variety claims that in the video Wilde is heard saying she is ‘not ready to give up on this yet,’ as he appears to beg the actor to reconsider.
Wilde is then said to allude to tension between LaBeouf and lead star Florence Pugh, who plays Alice, the wife of Jack.
‘I feel like I’m not ready to give up on this yet, and I too am heartbroken and I want to figure this out,’ Wilde allegedly says in the video.
‘You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo [Florence Pugh], and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us.’
Wilde goes on: ‘If she really 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 hers – but if you guys can do it, what do you think? Is there hope? Will you let me know?’
LaBeouf supplies another message where Wilde allegedly wrote to him: ‘You don’t have to be in my movies but don’t ever doubt me. We pinky promised. That means something in my house.’
Romance sparks on set
Styles joined the cast of Don’t Worry Darling in September 2020.
And just two months later, Wilde announced her ten-year relationship with fellow Hollywood star Jason Sudeikis was over.
After ‘growing close’ to each other on set, the Hollywood actress was pictured arriving at the former One Direction heartthrob’s LA home in January 2021 with her luggage in hand and the two were seen driving around California together.
Olivia was then spotted arriving at Harry’s LA home just days after the two were spotted holding hands at Harry’s agent’s wedding at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.
Harry Styles replaced Shia Lebouf as the star of Don’t Worry Darling in Olivia Wilde’s film and they quickly struck up a romance
Olivia was pictured walking hand in hand with her lead actor at Harry’s LA home in January 2021` after ‘growing close’ on the set
The images sparked a frenzy among his devoted fanbase and their regular outings together over the following months confirmed their relationship, despite their ten-year age gap.
They continued to appear in public together, holding hands and kissing while they worked on the film.
Styles has met her two children and described it as the ‘most serious’ relationship he has ever been in.
But in a dramatic moment, Wilde was served custody papers by Sudeikis while she was on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
Olivia Wilde was served with custody papers from her ex Jason Sudeikis while on stage at CinemaCon and her boyfriend was seen days later blowing off the steam while hiking
Olivia was giving a presentation on Don’t Worry Darling when she was served with legal papers pertaining to the children she shares with Sudeikis.
The actress paused to verify the documents were hers before continuing her presentation.
Sudeikis made a statement regarding his ex and said that he had ‘no prior knowledge of the time or place that the envelope would have been delivered.’
He added that he would never want her to be served in such an ‘inappropriate manner.’
Pugh’s ‘anger’ at their relationship
While Styles and Wilde were getting on like a house on fire, Pugh appeared less enamoured with her costar.
She was said to be unhappy with the pair because of their relationship on set.
An insider told Page Six: ‘Flo seeing Olivia and Harry all over each other on set did not go down well as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry.’
Fans have noticed that Pugh has not praised Wilde as a director on the project.
She is said to have failed to ‘like’ a post in which Wilde included the full official trailer for Don’t Worry Darling.
Wow! The actress, 26, was pictured receiving a raunchy sex act from her on-screen husband, 28, in the movie’s trailer, which was released in May
Yet the director shared a picture of Pugh and wrote: ‘Watching this woman work was such a f***ing thrill! Cannot wait to show you more. @florencepugh @dontworrydarling.’
Pugh didn’t respond but that same day posted a trailer for another new project, Oppenheimer.’
She has also expressed annoyance at appearing in sex scenes alongside Styles.
She told Harper’s Bazaar: ‘When it’s reduced to your sex scenes, or to watch the most famous man in the world go down on someone, it’s not why we do it.
‘It’s not why I’m in this industry. Obviously, the nature of hiring the most famous pop star in the world, you’re going to have conversations like that.
‘That’s just not what I’m going to be discussing because [this movie is] bigger and better than that. And the people who made it are bigger and better than that.’
Pay row
Reports suggested that Styles, an acting rookie with one minor film role to his name, was paid three times more than his Oscar-nominated co-star Pugh.
Showbiz Galore claimed Pugh was paid $700,000 for the role while Styles was paid $2.5million.
Wilde has insisted this is not the case.
Reports suggested that Styles, an acting rookie with one minor film role to his name, was paid three times more than his Oscar-nominated co-star Pugh (pictured in the film)
She told Variety: ‘There has been a lot out there that I largely don’t pay attention to. But the absurdity of invented clickbait and subsequent reaction regarding a nonexistent pay disparity between our lead and supporting actors really upset me.
‘I’m a woman who has been in this business for over 20 years, and it’s something that I have fought for myself and others, especially being a director. There is absolutely no validity to those claims.’
But some have now suggested that Pugh is so unhappy with Wilde and the film that she has refused to promote it.
Although others say she is too busy filming the sequel for Dune.
… and Styles’ acting has already been panned
Styles’ accent in Don’t Worry Darling has left fans confused over where his character is supposed to be from.
A clip from the upcoming film was shared on social media and fans have been left divided over Harry’s accent – with some claiming he is doing a bad imitation of an American accent, while others insisted his character is supposed to be British.
In the clip, Harry and Florence – who play a young married couple named Jack and Alice – are seen arguing over Jack’s job.
He says: ‘Not everyone gets this opportunity and if you keep talking like this, you’re going to put it all at risk.’
Clip: Harry Styles’ accent in his new film Don’t Worry Darling has left fans confused over where his character is supposed to be from
Alice replies: ‘You’re worried about a demotion, that’s what you’re worried about?’
Jack says: ‘Our life, Alice! Our life together, this, I could lose this.’
Florence, who is also English, does a noticeably American accent in the film while viewers thought Harry seemed to try out a few different twangs.
Reacting to the clip, one Twitter user said: ‘Wow he really said Mr Worldwide with this accent flyover’.
Another user said: ‘American accent where?’ while another asked: ‘Is he meant to be English in it?’
One fan wrote: ‘When I tell you I wasn’t ready for Jack I wasn’t ready for Jack,’ to which someone else replied: ‘I don’t think anybody is ready for that “accent”‘.
Another Twitter user said: ‘What’s wrong with his accent?’ to which another replied: ‘Which one?’
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