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Actor and director Olivia Wilde revealed why she cast her boyfriend Harry Styles as the male lead in her upcoming film Don't Worry Darling. It turns out it has nothing to do with their relationship.
Wilde revealed to Variety Styles was actually her second choice for her directorial follow-up to 2019's Booksmart, called in after she fired her original star Shia LaBeouf in order to make Florence Pugh "feel safe."
Wilde told Variety it was LaBeouf's "combative" process made her axe him in favor of Styles because of the many "vulnerable" situations required of Pugh during production.
Her casting change came just a few months before LaBeouf's former partner and costar FKA Twigs filed suit against him for sexual battery.
\u201cShia LaBeouf Was Fired from \u2018Don\u2019t Worry Darling\u2019 to Keep Florence Pugh \u2018Safe,\u2019 Says Olivia Wilde https://t.co/1ubOX8aX2H\u201d— IndieWire (@IndieWire) 1661362260
Speaking about LaBeouf, Wilde told Variety:
“I say this as someone who is such an admirer of his work: His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions."
Wilde has previously spoken of a firm "no a**holes" policy on her projects.
She went on to say LaBeouf's approach was not in line with hers.
"He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances.”
Shortly after his 2020 firing, FKA Twigs filed suit against LaBeouf for sexual battery, alleging sexual, emotional and psychological abuse throughout their year-long relationship, which began while FKA Twigs was co-starring in LaBeouf's semi-autobiographical drama Honey Boy.
Wilde referenced these allegations while explaining her move was motivated by an instinct to protect star Florence Pughon.
She told Variety:
“A lot came to light after [his firing] happened that really troubled me, in terms of his behavior. For our film, what we really needed was an energy that was incredibly supportive."
"Particularly with a movie like this, I knew that I was going to be asking Florence to be in very vulnerable situations, and my priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported.”
On Twitter, many applauded Wilde for her decision.
\u201cshe\u2019s a queen for this decision\u201d— sophia (@sophia) 1661356134
\u201c@TMZ @TooFab She is so nice. Basically he is confrontational and always ready to argue and no one had time for that.\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1661361603
\u201cshia labeouf seems to be the original ezra miller. https://t.co/xBb10O9mQk\u201d— My360Nation (@My360Nation) 1661374092
\u201cWomen directing women >\u201d— Chen \ud83d\udd2e (@Chen \ud83d\udd2e) 1661358287
\u201c@FilmUpdates Excellent directorial choice, I\u2019m excited to see Olivias work.\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1661354707
\u201cOlivia Wilde is an icon\u201d— Hannah \u2600\ufe0f (@Hannah \u2600\ufe0f) 1661365585
\u201cOlivia Boss Queen era.\u201d— Graicyg (@Graicyg) 1661371171
\u201cBooksmart was an incredible directorial debuts, so I'd watch whatever Olivia Wilde follows it up with, but her having a no-tolerance attitude to Shia LaBoeuf gets her extra respect.\u201d— Kieron Moore #TeamWallaby\ud83e\udd98 (@Kieron Moore #TeamWallaby\ud83e\udd98) 1661358274
Others couldn't believe there was yet more drama to the story of Wilde's film, which has been plagued by behind-the-scenes gossip for months.
\u201cThis movie hasn\u2019t even come out yet and i am already tired of the PR\u201d— bee (@bee) 1661437386
\u201cNo film since Cleopatra has produced as much prerelease chaos and gossip as Don\u2019t Worry Darling. \n\n-Jason Sudeikis serves Olivia Wilde.\n-Florence Pugh vs. Olivia Wilde.\n-Rolling Stone UK turns Harry Styles into a villain.\n-Shia LaBeouf lol\n-Olivia Wilde dragged relentlessly.\u201d— art tavana \ud83c\udf35 (@art tavana \ud83c\udf35) 1661444832
Despite the allegations against him, Wilde said she has no hard feelings for LaBeouf.
“I find myself just really wishing him health and evolution because I believe in restorative justice.”
Don't Worry Darling comes out September 23.