Three years after making his big screen acting debut inDunkirk,Harry Styleshas signed on to star inOlivia Wilde‘s psychological thrillerDon’t Worry, Darling, replacingShia LaBeouf.
Set in the 1950s, the New Line movie will starFlorence Pughas an unhappy housewife who slowly begins to question her own sanity when she starts to notice strange occurrences in her small, utopian community in the California desert. Styles will play Pugh’s picture-perfect husband, who loves her dearly, but is hiding a dark secret from her.
Chris Pineis set to co-star as the leader of a mysterious worksite. All the men are employed just outside of town, and Pine’s character is revered by all of his staffers and their wives, almost in a cult-like fashion. Meanwhile,Dakota Johnsonwill play Pugh’s neighbor, who begins to exhibit strange, paranoid behavior and tries to warn Pugh that everything in their community is not what it seems. Wilde will also play a key supporting role.
After making her directing debut with the acclaimed teen comedyBooksmart, Wilde will direct from a script byKatie Silberman, theBooksmartscribe who rewrote the original script byCarey and Shane Van Dyke. Wilde and Silberman will also produceDon’t Worry Darlingwith Vertigo’sRoy LeeandMiri Yoon, while the Van Dykes will executive produce withCatherine Hardwicke. New Line executivesDaria CercekandCelia Khongwill oversee the project for the studio.
The project is a priority for WarnerMedia-owned New Line, and Warners brass has been eager to work with Styles again afterDunkirk. He was up for the lead inBaz Luhrmann’sElvis Presleymovie, thoughAustin Butlerultimately won the role. Disney soon came calling with an offer for Styles to play Prince Eric in its live-action adaptation ofThe Little Mermaid, but Styles wound up turning down the part. The chance to work with Wilde and Pugh is a good opportunity for Styles, and I’m surprised that LaBeouf backed out due to a reported scheduling conflict.
Wilde has several directing projects on her plate, including a new Marvel movie for Sony, and the gymnastics dramaPerfect, butDon’t Worry Darlingis expected to be her next feature seeing as it’s already cast.Deadlinebroke the news of Styles' casting inDWD. For more on Wilde’s Marvel movie, which is rumored to involve Spider-Woman,click here.
