Olivia Wilde’s much-anticipated Don’t Worry Darling is set to drop this September, and with a star-studded cast led by none other than Harry Styles and Florence Pugh, fall just can’t come soon enough. But just how much do we know about this mysterious, ‘50s-inspired psychological thriller?
The Trailer
Everyone was in the dark about the film’s plot until its first trailer dropped in early May this year and broke the internet. From steamy scenes between Styles and Pugh to very Stepford Wives-esque scenery complete with cults and a creepy suburban neighborhood, the trailer shows what we assume is an idealized and perfect community with some dark secrets.
Wilde’s Inspiration and References
During CinemaCon last April, Wilde credits films like Inception, The Matrix, and The Truman Show as her primary sources of inspiration. She relates to the crowd of theater owners present during the event:
“Imagine a life where you have everything you could want. Not just material, tangible things… like a beautiful house, perfect weather, and gorgeous cars. But also the things that really matter, like true love or the perfect partner or real trusted friendships and a purpose that feels meaningful. What would it take for you to give up that life, that perfect life? What are you really willing to sacrifice to do what’s right? Are you willing to dismantle the system that’s designed to serve you?”
These are all very intriguing and match the tone of the first trailer’s eerie vibe so far. I’m willing to bet that we’re all going to see Florence Pugh’s famous frown and possibly another scene of her screaming that’ll probably rival her work on Midsommar but then again, we sort of already have during that one scene in the trailer.
Is It A Remake? A Book?
Although the film gives off a Stepford Wives vibe and, to some extent, the Manhattan Project, it actually isn’t based on any prior source material. The film’s script was written by the Van Dyke brothers and was featured on 2019’s Black List, which was then given some final touches and rewrites by Katie Silberman, whom Wilde also worked with on Booksmart.
Delays in Filming
To celebrate and end the mark of filming, Pugh shared the post below thanking and expressing love for the crew and everyone on set. Don’t Worry Darling started filming in October of 2020 and as Pugh writes, it was a COVID movie:
“We were very aware what it meant when we all agreed to this job. It was a COVID movie. One that could get shut down at any moment and of course, we did [Production had been halted for a brief two-week period during November last year after a person on set had tested positive for the virus]. However, despite these new shooting restrictions and guidelines, I can’t tell you how energised these people in my photos have been.”
Welcome to Victory
Warner Brothers recently tweeted the film’s official motion poster, as seen below. In it is an exterior shot of Alice (Florence Pugh) kissing her husband Jack (Harry Styles) goodbye as a plane is about to crash over their home.
The Cast
Wilde makes a cameo herself as a woman named Bunny, who is one of the many wives in Victory. She will be joined by Gemma Chan (Eternals), KiKi Layne (The Old Guard), and Kate Berlant (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood). As for the husbands, there’s Chris Pine (Wonder Woman) as Frank, who appears to be playing Styles’ superior in the company behind Victory, Nick Kroll (Big Mouth), Douglas Smith (The Bye Bye Man), and Ari’el Stachel (Zola).
The Plot
According to the film’s official website, this is its official synopsis:
“Alice (Pugh) and Jack (Styles) are lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. The 1950’s societal optimism espoused by their CEO, Frank (Pine)—equal parts corporate visionary and motivational life coach—anchors every aspect of daily life in the tight-knit desert utopia.
While the husbands spend every day inside the Victory Project Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials,” their wives—including Frank’s elegant partner, Shelley (Chan)—get to spend their time enjoying the beauty, luxury and debauchery of their community. Life is perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company. All they ask in return is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause.
But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath the attractive façade, Alice can’t help questioning exactly what they’re doing in Victory, and why. Just how much is Alice willing to lose to expose what’s really going on in this paradise?”
Don’t Worry Darling opens in theaters everywhere on September 23, 2022. Are you as excited as we are?
(Featured Image: Warner Bros.)
