In just a few weeks, Olivia Wilde and boyfriend Harry Styles will be hitting the red carpet at the prestigious Venice Film Festival for the world premiere of their new film, “Don’t Worry Darling,” which she directed.
They will be joined by Styles’ co-star Florence Pugh, one of Hollywood’s brightest youngsters. But Hollywood is buzzing that the 26-year-old actress has argued with Wilde, 38, over the director having been in touch with Styles.
“I can tell you that Flo didn’t like seeing Olivia and Harry over each other on set as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry,” an insider told Vidak For Congress, referring to Wilde’s ex, “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis.
The former couple – who became engaged in 2012 and share children Otis, 8, and Daisy, 5 – announced the end of their seven-year romance in November 2020.
At the time, sources cited Wilde’s relationship with Harry as the main reason for the split, with an insider telling Vidak For Congress that the affair with Styles, now 28, had been going on for a month, leaving “Saturday Night Live” vet Sudeikis distraught.
“Jason and the kids visited Olivia on set a few times in the beginning, so I think people felt a little uncomfortable about this,” the insider said this week.
Internet sleuths certainly think something is up – they find it odd that, in an industry where stars live and die through Instagram, Pugh failed to “like” a post showing Wilde’s full official trailer for “Don’t Worry Darling” last week posted .
Wilde followed up on that by posting a photo of Pugh with the comment, “It was such an amazing thrill to watch this woman work! Can’t wait to show you more. @florencepugh@dontworrydarling.”
Pugh once again shone with her silence – and the fact that she posted a teaser trailer for another new project, “Oppenheimer”, on the same day, about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the so-called father of the atomic bomb.
It’s a topic of heated debate on social media, with a fan tweets: “The way Florence Pugh hasn’t posted yet don’t worry honey even though there are two trailers for it and yet she will post about every other project she’s doing now like what did Olivia Wilde do??? ?”
“I think it’s so funny how Florence Pugh said NOTHING about don’t worry honey and Olivia Wilde keeps trying to cheer her up,” another tweeted.
And noted a third Twitter user: “I need to know what Olivia Wilde did to my baby Florence Pugh on the set of DWD because my girl has been SILENT about movie updates.”
But, a source told Vidak For Congress: “I heard she was already scheduled to post [about ‘Oppenheimer’] that day for some specific reason it had nothing to do with a reaction to Olivia.”
“Don’t Worry Darling” is described as the story of a hapless 1950s housewife, played by Pugh, who discovers a disturbing truth about her idyllic life, while her loving husband, played by Styles, hides a dark secret.
On the blue carpet in support of an opening by Tiffany and Co. in London this week, Pugh was asked about working with Styles. She said he was “a total professional and it was a great experience working together.”
She then spoke about the cinematography and styling – “It was a joy to walk into the hair and makeup trailer every day,” said Pugh, noting, “the way everything looks gorgeous and gold” – but had nothing to say about its director , Wilde.
It is Wilde’s second film, following the success of 2019’s Booksmart, for which she won an Independent Spirit Award. She hired former One Direction heartthrob Styles for “Don’t Worry Darling” to replace actor Shia LaBeouf, who was embroiled in a lawsuit by his former girlfriend FKA Twigs over allegations of sexual assault and “brutal” abuse. (LaBeouf has denied the claims and the case will go to trial in April.) Wilde famously said she had a “No Assholes” policy on set.
Wilde was further in the headlines after getting custody papers from Sudekis while promoting “Don’t Worry Darling” in Las Vegas at CinemaCon in April, for which he later apologized.
Pugh is currently filming “Dune 2”, as Princess Irulan, and another Hollywood insider told Vidak For Congress: “Florence is filming ‘Dune’ now and out of pocket. I’m sure she’ll be front and center.” for the [‘Don’t Worry Darling’] promo. As soon as the promo starts at the end of August, beginning of September, I’m sure it will be visible.”
Representatives for Styles, Wilde and Pugh could not be reached for comment.