In her latest outing, Olivia Wilde has successfully managed to steer the critics’ attention away from the Shia LaBeouf controversy. The 38-year-old director has already debuted in Hollywood as a director with her 2019 buddy comedy coming-of-age film, Booksmart. With this being her second directorial venture, Warner Bros. produced Don’t Worry Darling has already had its fair share of mess to sort through. But it seems Wilde has a trick or two up her sleeve when it comes to marketing and promotion.
Olivia Wilde’s Evolution and the Becoming of DWD
It comes as no surprise that one of the most demanding industries is comprised of equally cut-throat elements in the making. Hollywood hasn’t been kind to the vulnerable and people have been known to fall prey to its allure. But not Wilde. With a steady and determined rise, the actress-turned-director has made a niche for herself with her directorial debut. With the backing of a critically acclaimed film to her name, she has now stepped on, with surer and bolder steps, to the big leagues.
The director’s latest artistic and creative venture is all about sex positivity, something that is eerily similar to and derivative of her partner, Harry Styles‘ approach to songwriting and life. With the film already creating enough ruckus due to its hoard of controversies — because of both, the director and the studio, it seems unnecessary that the film would need the extra promotion right now. But that is what has been happening given that the director has become increasingly vocal about the movie’s intention to be revolutionary and take people out of their comfort zones.
Olivia Wilde Critiques MPA For Its “Puritanical” Outlook
In her latest interview, Olivia Wilde has spoken up about the restrictions she faced during the trailer launch of her 1950s-set psychological thriller drama, Don’t Worry Darling. Talking to The Associated Press, she reveals how the trailer was framed around a more openly erotic peek into the film’s narrative, but having been deemed as unsuitable for the audience, the Motion Picture Association had demanded some last-minute changes, to her chagrin.
“There’s a lot that had to be taken out of the trailer. The MPA came down hard on me and the trailer at the last second and I had to cut some shots, which I was upset about because I thought they took it up another notch. But of course, we still live in a really puritanical society. I do think the lack of eroticism in American film is kind of new.
Then when it comes to female pleasure, it’s something that we just don’t see very often unless you’re talking about queer cinema. You know, it’s interesting because, in a lot of queer films, the female characters are allowed to have more pleasure. Audiences aren’t as puritanical as corporations think they are. And yet people get upset. I mean, people are upset with me already over this. I think it’s a testament to the film. We want to be provocative. The idea is not to make you feel safe.”
Don’t Worry Darling is one of the only two movies (the other being DCEU’s Black Adam) that Warner Bros. has announced to be releasing this year due to its strategic shifts in management and strained budgetary conditions. The film will premiere on 23 September 2022.
Source: The Associated Press
