Warner Bros.’ Don’t Worry Darling seemed like a typical, high-concept film. It excited fans to hear that Pugh would star in the film and intrigued many when they learned that Harry Styles had been cast opposite Pugh as her love interest. As the film’s production cycle went on, however, things became messier and messier. Wilde’s personal life became a focal point rather than the film itself, as she began to date star Harry Styles and began a lengthy custody battle with her ex Jason Sudeikis, which infamously culminated in Wilde being served custody papers on stage at CinemaCon. Reports of a rift between Pugh and Wilde began to appear in the media, with many claiming that Pugh refused to promote the film beyond the bare minimum her contract stipulated.
RELATED: Florence Pugh Frustrated By Reaction to Don’t Worry Darling Sex Scene
According to a report published by Vulture, Pugh and Wilde allegedly engaged in a screaming match following a breaking point in the pair’s working relationship. “Olivia and Harry would just disappear,” an anonymous source is credited as saying. The report then alleges that the feud between the two women reached the top of the Warner Bros. totem pole, with the highest ranking executive (at the time) Toby Emmerich, forced to play the role of peacemaker and ensure that Pugh play a part in the film’s promotional cycle.
The report further alleges that the studio is unhappy with how Wilde has handled the promotional run of the film. Though Wilde has talked about the Don’t Worry Darling drama, she has also been facing criticism about a situation involving Shia LaBeouf. LaBeouf, who is facing allegations of abuse, was the original actor chosen for Styles’ role. Wilde claimed that she fired LaBeouf, who responded with a video of Wilde asking if he could “work through” the issues he was facing with Pugh. Many criticized Wilde, feeling that she lied, and also feeling that she was condescending to Pugh for referring to her as “Miss Flo” in the video.
There are various reports about how Don’t Worry Darling became controversial. Some credit Styles, who has become a bit of a controversial figure of late for what some feel is gaybaiting behavior on the part of the actor/singer. He recently drew the ire of many LGBT+ figures for suggesting that gay sex in cinema never shows tenderness, prompting many figures in the community to wonder why he would comment on and criticize LGBT+ representation if he does not openly identify with that community. Others place the blame mostly on Wilde, whose relationship with Styles appears to have caused a great deal of controversy in itself.
Whatever the case, the Don’t Worry Darling behind-the-scenes drama is itself an enigma that has left fans wanting to know the truth of the matter. Few films reach this level of notoriety for the drama that occurs behind the scenes, and perhaps that will draw up some interest in the film. While early reviews have been tepid, with many critics specifically criticizing Styles’ acting and calling the film uninteresting, it appears that Don’t Worry Darling could end up as a cult classic for the drama surrounding it.
Don’t Worry Darling is now playing in theaters.
MORE: Marvel Should Cast Brendan Fraser In A Future Project
Source: Vulture
