Olivia Wilde’s ‘Invite’ Cast Talked About Their Own Marriages, ‘Sexual Dynamics’ to Prep for Filming: ‘It Got Very Personal Very Fast’
Olivia Wilde’s last directing effort, 2022’s “Don’t Worry Darling,” was marred by controversy and messy behind-the-scenes gossip.
From Wilde’s falling out with the film’s original star Shia LaBeouf and her romance with his replacement Harry Styles to alleged bad blood between her and lead actress Florence Pugh, the drama behind “Don’t Worry Darling” overshadowed the actual film.
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Since then, over the last four years, Wilde has kept a low profile.
Popular on Variety
Until now.
Wilde is back with “The Invite,” an awards-buzzy ensemble dramedy that she not only stars in but also directs. She and Seth Rogen play a San Francisco couple on the brink of a breakup who find themselves facing their marital problems when they invite a free-spirited couple from their building (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) over for dinner.
“Conversations that stem from a comedy are really about people recognizing themselves and laughing at even difficult things, and there’s this sense of catharsis and relief of ‘Oh man, life is tough and we’re all just doing our best.’ The movie is meant to make you feel that and to have a good time,” Wilde told me Wednesday night at “The Invite” premiere in Los Angeles. “And that energy has really permeated the whole experience and even the press experience.”
She added with a smile, “I just feel kind of more relaxed and confident than ever.”
Olivia Wilde says she feels “more relaxed and confident than ever” promoting #TheInvite after a four-year hiatus following 2022’s “Don’t Worry Darling”:
— Variety (@Variety) June 26, 2026
“Conversations that stem from a comedy are really about people recognizing themselves and laughing at even difficult things,… pic.twitter.com/NF3At2dk7r
“The Invite” was bought by A24 for $12 million after its Sundance debut earlier this year. As Variety reported, Wilde wiped away tears as she received a standing ovation after the Park City, Utah screening.
On Wednesday, Wilde posed on the carpet in a dramatic, body-bearing black gown. She greeted her co-stars with long embraces.
“I feel so lucky,” Wilde told me. “I mean, this is the greatest job in the world, and to be able to make a film with this group of people and to be able to release it in theaters is the dream. It’s been the most rewarding experience and I’m just so, so happy.”
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“The Invite” is an English-language adaptation of Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish film “Sentimental,” which he adapted from his stage play of the same name. Rashida Jones and Will McCormack serve as “The Invite” screenwriters. Producer David Permut told me that he’s currently developing a stage adaptation.
“She can handle pressure, and I really admire that and in the most kind and generous way,” Cruz said of Wilde. “She always had time for every single person in every department. We spent a like a crazy week and a half working on the script, like all of us.”
Rogen recalled the cast sharing some of their most private and vulnerable experiences about romance and marriage with each other before filming began.
“We all just kind of sat in a room and sort of read through the script, but mostly talked about kind of what we all thought made a good marriage and maybe made a bad marriage and made a healthy sexual dynamic and an unhealthy [sexual dynamic],” he said. “It got very personal very fast with a lot of the actors because that’s what the movie is about. I think in order to make it feel as real and reflective of the filmmakers and the team’s lives as possible, we all really got very honest with one another and I think it made the film much better and a lot of it worked its way into the film in various ways.”
Wilde previously revealed that she chose A24 over Netflix because she wanted a traditional run in theaters. “The Invite” release comes just on the heels of a report that the domestic box office is 13% ahead of last year. The summer season is pacing just 3.4% behind 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.
“I was so excited to hear that, and I think it’s great that it’s largely driven by young people because for a while there was this kind of myth that young people, Gen Z, didn’t want to go to the movie theaters,” Wilde said. “There was this sort of manipulation at play, I think, really for profit that was trying to say that they didn’t want to go to the movie theaters. They didn’t care, they’d rather be home.
She continued, “They are the ones driving the box office right now. They are driving this enthusiasm for authorship in filmmaking. They love ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession.’ They’re here for it. They want people to take risks in movies because they appreciate that risk. The audience has never been the problem, and I think now we’re seeing studios recognize that.”
Olivia Wilde says the narrative that Gen Z didn’t want to go to movie theaters was conjured “for profit” and has proven to be “obviously bullshit”:
— Variety (@Variety) June 26, 2026
“They are the ones driving the box office right now. They are driving this enthusiasm for authorship in filmmaking. They love… pic.twitter.com/ggghgfFlVk
While Wilde is tight-lipped about post-“The Invite” directing plans, she said: “I don’t want to jinx it, but I really hope to be able to put more comedies in the world. I think that if my purpose in this business was to bring fun people together and be silly and allow everyone to laugh, then I will have done something valuable.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
