Olivia Wilde Discusses Next “Way Bigger” Project

Coming off the success and love for her third directed feature, The Invite, Olivia Wilde is set to appear in Gregg Araki‘s erotic comedy thriller, I Want Your Sex, and is also thinking about her next project, Naughty. The film has been cited as a holiday comedy set to be released under Universal and will see Wilde direct stars Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage. 

Wilde has shared insight into her plans for her next project, revealing it will embody the spirit of the late and dearly missed American filmmaking icon, Rob Reiner, who directed the heartwarming classics, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally.

“I can’t believe it. This is a project we’ve been working on for years; it’s a passion project, and I fought and fought and fought to get this made,” the actress and director shared. “I feel so grateful that we get to make it because it is a movie that aims to be in the spirit of Rob Reiner, a comedy that has a tremendous amount of heart at its core.”

The filmmaker then specified that her next work will see tragedy and comedy blend, similar to her recent release, but also added that Naughty will be “a much bigger endeavour and is something that is way bigger than anything [she’s] ever taken on.”

“I feel very honored in this day and age to be able to direct an original theatrical comedy for a studio at this level,” Wilde added. “Universal is putting a tremendous amount of trust in me and the ability to be able to direct Jen and Peter, among a host of other incredible actors who are hopefully coming on board; I just couldn’t be more excited.”

Read more content on the comedy genre here. 

Wilde is also set to direct an adaptation of Jennifer Egan’s novel A Visit from the Goon Squad, a film based on the Avengelyne comic for Warner Bros. and another holiday comedy for Universal. Her latest film, The Invite, also stars Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton, and has grossed a worldwide total of  $31.9 million alongside ongoing critical and audience acclaim.  It’s a remake of Cesc Gay’s 2020 film Sentimental (The People Upstairs).

Her previous filmmaking credits include her 2019 debut, Booksmart, and the 2022 thriller, Don’t Worry Darling.

I Want Your Sex hits cinemas on the 31st July.

About the Author

Ros Tibbs

Editor

Ros is a film and lit graduate writing news and reviews at The People's Magazine. She also writes long-form film theory, film history, analytical or curated recommendations pieces on other platforms.

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