Hollywood star Olivia Wilde’s 2nd directorial feature Don’t Worry Darling was one of the most talked about movies in more ways than one. Firstly, the psychological thriller made waves and connected with the audiences for its hard-hitting themes of sexism, toxic masculinity, and a dire need for societal change along with depicting misogyny in American marriages.
While Wilde succeeded in creating the right kind of stir through her narrative, the film also faced backlash leading to a domino effect of issues that were magnified even more on social media. From her affair with lead star Harry Styles, her rumored feud with Florence Pugh and Shia LeBoeuf which resulted in the latter departing the film, to her separation from Jason Sudeikis during promotions, Olivia Wilde addressed the roller coaster journey of her film.
Don’t Worry Darling Gave Olivia Wilde A Lot Of Worries
Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh received huge hype upon its release and quickly became one of the most discussed films of the year. While it made Wilde a director to watch out for with its powerful and realistic take on relationships and societal discrimination, the film also became infamous for the events that happened off-screen. This included Olivia Wilde’s shocking affair with Harry Styles and her rumored misunderstanding with Pugh regarding a graphic intimate scene that the Oppenheimer star was reportedly uncomfortable with.
With the Tron star’s marriage to Jason Sudeikis also in shambles at the same time, Wilde expectedly went through a torrid period with her personal and professional life under criticism. Addressing the rumors and recalling the difficult time of navigation for her and her co-stars, Wilde said,
“It is shocking to see so many untruths about yourself traded as fact. Florence had a really wise comment that we didn’t sign up for a reality show. And I love that she put it that way, because it’s as though the general public feels that if you are making something that you’re selling to the public, you somehow have accepted that your life will be torn to shreds by a pack of wolves.”
Despite facing multiple hurdles and a hit to her reputation, Olivia Wilde still managed to make a long-lasting impression on audiences for her bold effort to address tough themes of patriarchy and misogyny.
Olivia Wilde Was Rejected To Star Opposite Leonardo DiCaprio
Olivia Wilde’s directorial Don’t Worry Darling had running themes that questioned gender discrimination and parochial thought in a male-dominated world. While this was a work of fiction, it is quite possible that Wilde may have been inspired to create the story from her own experiences. The Life Itself actor was originally considered to star opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf Of Wall Street but was shockingly rejected owing to a baffling reason.
“I had heard for a part that I was too sophisticated. I was like, oh, that sounds nice … and then I found out later that they actually said ‘old.’”
Despite being nine years younger than DiCaprio, Olivia Wilde’s look and physical appearance were not considered to be age-appropriate. While the role ultimately went to Margot Robbie, director Martin Scorsese eventually made up for his refusal by casting Wilde for the HBO series Vinyl based on her impressive audition for The Wolf Of Wall Street.
Source: Elle
