Unpacking the Unforgettable Don’t Worry Darling Behind the Scenes Drama
For some, hobbies involve sports, gardening, or knitting. For others, particularly those following entertainment news, the Don’t Worry Darling press tour became an unexpected, all-consuming pastime. The sheer volume of headlines surrounding the film, starring Florence Pugh and directed by Olivia Wilde, often overshadowed the movie itself. While the plot revolves around unsettling secrets in a seemingly idyllic 1950s community, the real intrigue for many unfolded off-screen. Understanding the intricate web of alleged feuds, controversial interviews, casting changes, and viral moments requires a closer look at the don’t worry darling behind the scenes narrative that captivated the public. This saga, involving high-profile relationships, alleged on-set tension, and scrutinized promotional appearances, became a story in its own right, raising questions about its impact on the film’s reception and legacy.
Much of the focus centered on director Olivia Wilde. Her public statements, relationship dynamics, and professional decisions were intensely analyzed throughout the film’s production and release cycle. From navigating a high-profile breakup and new romance with her lead actor to managing casting controversies and alleged friction with her star actress, the journey was anything but smooth. Despite respectable box office numbers, the film is arguably more remembered for the off-camera events than its cinematic merits, cementing its status as a prime example of when behind-the-scenes drama eclipses the final product. Let’s delve into the key elements that fueled the Don’t Worry Darling frenzy.
The Olivia Wilde-Harry Styles-Jason Sudeikis Love Triangle Saga
To grasp the full context of the Don’t Worry Darling behind the scenes buzz, it’s crucial to remember the public perception of Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis back in 2020. They were widely regarded as a beloved, “cool” celebrity couple – often tagged as “couple goals.” This status in Hollywood typically relies on both partners achieving independent success, making their union seem aspirational.
In 2019, Wilde directed Booksmart, a critical darling praised for its wit and direction. Its success significantly boosted Wilde’s profile, leading to a fierce bidding war for her next project, Don’t Worry Darling, later that summer. By April 2020, Florence Pugh and Shia LaBeouf were announced as leads, with Harry Styles replacing LaBeouf in September 2020. Concurrently, Sudeikis’s show Ted Lasso premiered in August 2020, rapidly becoming a cultural phenomenon and cementing his image as the epitome of earnestness and niceness. Wilde was the cool, smart director; Sudeikis was the sweet, successful TV star. Their simultaneous career peaks reinforced their “couple goals” image.
This idyllic picture shattered within months.
Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles in London amidst Don't Worry Darling production rumors
In November 2020, Wilde and Sudeikis announced their split, stating they had separated earlier that year. The official line, echoed by sources speaking to outlets like Entertainment Tonight, was that the breakup was “amicable,” emphasizing their commitment to co-parenting their two children. However, just weeks later, in early January 2021, People magazine published photos of Wilde and Styles holding hands at a wedding, sparking immediate speculation. Sources suggested their relationship began on the Don’t Worry Darling set, although the exact timing remained unclear. Page Six later reported claims of an affair, contradicting the narrative of an amicable split.
Filming wrapped in February 2021, and Wilde and Styles’s relationship progressed publicly. Wilde, in a December 2021 Vogue interview, spoke about finding happiness and suggested her new relationship was worth the public scrutiny, stating, “when you’re really happy, it doesn’t matter what strangers think about you.” Her interviews often framed the film around themes of female empowerment and orgasm, which some interpreted as subtle commentary on her personal choices.
Any illusion of post-split harmony between Wilde and Sudeikis evaporated dramatically in April 2022. While Wilde was presenting Don’t Worry Darling footage at CinemaCon, a major industry event, she was publicly served custody papers on stage. While sources close to Sudeikis denied he knew the specific timing, the optics were damaging. Wilde later told Variety, “I hated that this nastiness distracted from the work… But, you know, sadly, it was not something that was entirely surprising to me. I mean, there’s a reason I left that relationship.” This complex triangle involving a beloved nice guy, an empowering female director, and a global pop star provided endless fodder for gossip columns and became a central element of the film’s behind-the-scenes story.
Florence Pugh’s Notable Absence and Alleged Feud with Wilde
Amidst the swirling drama of the Wilde-Styles-Sudeikis triangle, the film’s actual star, Florence Pugh, seemed conspicuously absent from the promotional circuit. While her representatives cited scheduling conflicts with filming Dune: Part Two as the official reason for her limited participation, speculation mounted about a potential falling out between Pugh and Wilde.
Observers noted a shift in Pugh’s enthusiasm. Initially vocal about her excitement for the project, her social media activity related to the film became sparse. Fans pointed out instances where Wilde praised Pugh online, often without reciprocation. A Valentine’s Day post from Pugh celebrating the end of filming thanked crew members but notably omitted Wilde. Her eventual promotional post on August 11 featured a brief, somewhat detached caption.
Florence Pugh arriving at the Venice Film Festival for the Don't Worry Darling premiere
Furthermore, in a rare interview discussing the film with Harper’s Bazaar, Pugh seemed to push back against Wilde’s emphasis on the movie’s sexual content. “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,” Pugh stated, seemingly referencing Wilde’s comments and the casting of Styles. “That’s just not what I’m going to be discussing because [this movie is] bigger and better than that.” Rumors also circulated, reported by outlets like Page Six, suggesting Pugh was uncomfortable with the alleged affair between Wilde and Styles on set.
Evidence of friction intensified following the Shia LaBeouf controversy.
The Shia LaBeouf Casting Controversy
The situation surrounding Shia LaBeouf’s departure from the film added another complex layer to the don’t worry darling behind the scenes narrative. Initially cast opposite Pugh, LaBeouf was replaced by Harry Styles in September 2020. In an August 2022 interview with Variety, Wilde stated she had fired LaBeouf to protect her cast and maintain a “safe, trusting environment,” alluding to his controversial history (including allegations of abuse from FKA twigs).
However, LaBeouf publicly refuted Wilde’s account. He provided Variety with screenshots of text messages and a video message allegedly sent by Wilde after he claimed he quit. In the video, Wilde appeared to be pleading with LaBeouf to reconsider, seemingly referencing tension between him and Pugh. “I feel like I’m not ready to give up on this yet,” Wilde allegedly says in the clip. “You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us… if you guys can make peace…”
The term “Miss Flo,” used seemingly dismissively towards Pugh, quickly became a meme and further fueled speculation about the director-actor relationship. Shortly after LaBeouf’s rebuttal and the video leak, it was announced Pugh would skip the Don’t Worry Darling press conference at the Venice Film Festival, citing her Dune schedule, though the timing intensified rumors of a rift.
Venice Film Festival: A Microcosm of the Drama
The Venice Film Festival premiere of Don’t Worry Darling became a focal point where all the rumored tensions seemed to play out under intense media scrutiny. Every interaction, or lack thereof, was dissected.
Despite the tight schedule cited for missing the press conference, Pugh arrived in Venice in time for the red carpet, making a statement with her arrival look. Her stylist, Rebecca Corbin-Murray, pointedly captioned an Instagram photo of Pugh with “Miss Flo,” the nickname Wilde allegedly used in the leaked video to LaBeouf. Corbin-Murray also reportedly liked tweets critical of Wilde.
On the red carpet and during the premiere screening, observers noted the physical distance maintained between key players. Pugh and Wilde were rarely photographed near each other, and according to Variety’s Ramin Setoodeh, Pugh avoided making eye contact with Wilde during the film’s standing ovation. Similarly, Wilde and Styles also kept their distance, arriving separately and not sitting together, sparking brief rumors of a split.
Back view of Don't Worry Darling cast including Olivia Wilde, Harry Styles, Chris Pine at Venice Film Festival premiere showing their positioning
Adding to the bizarre atmosphere was the viral saga involving Chris Pine. During a press junket interview, Pine’s seemingly zoned-out expression while Styles described the film (“My favorite thing about the movie is that it feels like a movie…”) became an instant meme, with viewers interpreting it as anything from boredom to existential despair. Then came “Spitgate”: a video clip appeared to show Styles spitting on Pine as he took his seat at the premiere. Pine’s reaction – pausing his applause and looking down with an expression read as bemused annoyance – sent the internet into overdrive. While Pine’s representative vehemently denied the incident, calling it an “odd online illusion,” and alternative explanations surfaced (like Pine noticing his sunglasses), the sheer absurdity of the speculation highlighted the fever pitch surrounding the film. The Venice premiere crystalized the feeling that the don’t worry darling behind the scenes story had completely overshadowed the film itself.
Post-Release Fallout: Kiki Layne & Ari’el Stachel Speak Out
The controversies didn’t end with the film’s release. During the opening weekend, actress Kiki Layne, who played Margaret, one of the housewives in the film’s fictional town of Victory, took to Instagram. She posted a picture with co-star Ari’el Stachel (who played her husband, Ted), stating, “The best thing about #DontWorryDarling is that I was lucky enough to meet @arielstachel. They cut us from most of the movie, but we thriving in real life.” Layne and Stachel are reportedly dating.
Stachel echoed this sentiment in a TikTok video, showcasing tweets lamenting his minimal screen time despite his character’s significance in the source material, including one calling his role a “glorified extra.” Their comments added another dimension to the scrutiny surrounding Wilde’s directorial choices, particularly concerning the representation and screen time allocated to actors of color within the ensemble cast. This revelation that significant portions of Layne’s and Stachel’s performances were left on the cutting room floor served as a final, Coda-like controversy in the long saga of the film’s troubled production and promotion.
Ultimately, Don’t Worry Darling performed adequately at the box office, suggesting the relentless publicity, whether positive or negative, might have driven curiosity. However, the film’s legacy seems inextricably linked to the unprecedented level of public fascination with its off-screen turmoil. The convergence of celebrity relationships, alleged professional conflicts, and viral moments ensured that the don’t worry darling behind the scenes drama became a defining, and perhaps more memorable, story than the one presented on screen.
