Olivia Wilde’s new film “Don’t Worry Darling” took center stage at the Venice Film Festival on Monday.
During a press conference for the upcoming thriller, Wilde, who directs and appears in the film in a supporting role, was asked about the play’s star, Florence Pugh. Pugh was absent from the press conference due to filming commitments on “Dune: Part Two,” but will attend the premiere screening of “Don’t Worry Darling” at the festival on Monday night.
“Florence is a force,” said Wilde. “We are so grateful that he is able to make it tonight despite being in production on ‘Dune.’ I know as a director how annoying it is to lose an actor even for a day, so I’m very grateful to her, very grateful to Denis Villeneuve (director of “Dune: Part Two”) for helping us, and we’re really excited that let’s celebrate her work tonight.”
Wilde added, “I can’t say enough about the honor of having her as our leader. She’s amazing in the movie.”
The director was asked about reports that she and Pugh had fallen out.
“As for all the endless tabloid gossip and all the noise out there, I mean, the Internet feeds on itself,” Wilde said. “I don’t feel the need to contribute. I think he’s eating pretty well.”
A press conference moderator redirected the conversation when a reporter asked Wilde a question about actor Shia LaBeof, who was originally cast to play opposite Pugh in a role that ended up going to singer and actor Harry Styles, stating, “I think this question has been answered’
LaBeof recently retracted reports that he had left the project. He left the film because he felt the actors did not have enough time to rehearse, Variety reported.
“Don’t Worry Darling” also stars Gemma Chan and Chris Pine.
Styles, who is currently performing on a world tour, was asked about his future plans to appear on screen. The “As It Was” singer said he is taking his life “day by day.”
“Making music is a really personal thing and there are aspects of acting that you draw from experience, but mostly you’re pretending to be playing someone else,” Styles said. “That’s what I find most fun about it.”
“Don’t Worry Darling” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, which is owned by CNN’s parent company. The film opens Monday night in Venice and opens in theaters on September 23.
