Sometimes the story of a movie’s making is as compelling as the movie itself. Think of the days of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, “Apocalypse Now,” even the recent “Mad Max: Fury Road,” all of which have inspired countless behind-the-scenes tales.
To that list one might now add “Don’t Worry Darling,” which has sparked wild conversation and much controversy even before its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
The casting of the backstage drama is tantalizing: Wilde, an actress in the midst of refashioning herself as a maker of smart, commercial films; Harry Styles, one of the world’s most beloved pop stars; Jason Sudeikis, embodiment of the new nice-guy-ness through his “Ted Lasso” character; Florence Pugh, a widely respected, Oscar-nominated actress; and Shia LaBeouf, the child star turned bad-boy actor whose personal troubles have repeatedly threatened to upend his career. Put all those personalities in a pot and stir.
