Jun 19, 2026 4:28pm IST
Olivia Wilde On Returning To Direction With ‘The Invite’: ‘This Film Is Exactly The Conversation I Want To Be Having’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Olivia Wilde is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film, “The Invite.” The comedy-drama marks her return to directing and acting after four years, with her last project being “Don’t Worry Darling” (2022).
Related Stories
But what prompted Olivia to direct a marital comedy, focusing on a bitter couple? She says, “I thought, at this point in my life, this film is exactly the conversation I want to be having - I think that’s what it takes for you to direct a film.” For those unaware, the story revolves around Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde), who find themselves in a tumultuous marriage.
Interestingly, the actor-director also studied Rashida Jones and Will McCormack’s screenplay several times after revisiting Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish film “The People Upstairs.” “I found myself wrestling with the themes of the original film (“The People Upstairs”) as though I were in a relationship with it. It became this intense obsession, coming to me at a time when I realized I had so much to say through my own work,” Olivia shares.
The trailer of “The Invite” was recently released. It shows how the lead couple invites their mysterious upstairs neighbors over for dinner to break free from the rut that has settled into their relationship. What begins as an ordinary evening soon takes an unexpected turn. As the night grows tense and unpredictable, Joe and Angela are forced to confront whether their marriage can be salvaged or is pushing closer to collapse.
The movie, produced by A24, stars Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. PVRINOX Pictures is releasing the movie in India on June 26, 2026.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.