Olivia Wilde: How ‘The Invite’ Shattered Her Cynicism
Olivia Wilde on How "The Invite" Melted Her Inner Cynic and Changed Her View on Love
Quick Summary: At the Locarno Film Festival, director and actress Olivia Wilde shared how making her new movie The Invite transformed her perspective on relationships, reminded her why movie theaters matter, and helped her embrace vulnerability both on and off screen.
The Movie That Changed Everything
Olivia Wilde—known for directing Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling—premiered her third feature film, The Invite, at Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival. She didn’t just show up to promote it; she opened up about how the project reshaped her outlook on love, filmmaking, and herself.
The Invite stars Wilde alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. The story unfolds over a single evening when a couple (Joe and Angela, played by Rogen and Wilde) invite their upstairs neighbors (Piña and Hawk) over for dinner. What starts as a simple gathering becomes a deep, funny, and raw exploration of long-term relationships.
From Cynic to Romantic: What the Film Taught Her
Important Point: Wilde said the film "melted the cynic out of me" and made her "so much more romantic."
Here’s how her thinking shifted:
- Before filming: She thought the movie was about the end of a relationship.
- After filming (and talking to audiences): She realized it’s really about whether a relationship can begin again with the same person—and whether having "multiple relationships with one person" might actually be more meaningful than she once believed.
She was especially moved by conversations with couples married 40, 50, even 60 years, who told her the film honestly reflected their experience of reinventing their bond over decades.
The Surprise Audience: Young People Full of Hope
Wilde expected the film to resonate mostly with people in her own life stage. Instead, she discovered:
- The biggest audience in the U.S. is under 35.
- A huge chunk are in their twenties.
- Their questions weren’t rooted in regret—they were rooted in hope.
- They’re thinking deeply about who they want to be individually and in relationship to others.
Important Point: This gave Wilde optimism about the future of cinema, romance, and young people’s appetite for grown-up storytelling.
Why She Fought for a Theatrical Release
In an era where many comedies skip theaters and go straight to streaming, Wilde pushed hard for a big-screen release. Here’s why:
| Reason | What She Said |
|---|---|
| Human tradition | "We used to gather and tell stories, and laugh together—for thousands of years." |
| Comedy deserves theaters | Comedies have been treated as "second tier," but they create catharsis when shared with strangers. |
| Magic at Sundance | The audience reaction felt like a "chemical reaction"—she knew they had to protect that experience. |
| Right partners | Financier backed her choice; A24 (U.S.) and FilmNation (international) both committed to theatrical-only rolls. |
Fun Fact: At Locarno, the film screened for 8,000 people at once—a moment Wilde called "very special."
Directing: The "Most Thrilling and Fun Job"
Wilde didn’t direct her first film (Booksmart) until age 35. She says acting training gave her a secret weapon:
"Directing is like being multilingual—you have to speak each actor’s language."
- She can empathize completely with performers because she’s been in their shoes.
- She sees her job as translating between different acting styles and backgrounds.
- Even when not acting, she says, "the job of acting never actually ends."
The Cast Built the Characters—Together
Wilde credits the actors for creating their roles from the inside out:
- Penélope Cruz brought incredible specificity.
- Edward Norton transformed his character with subtle nuance.
- Seth Rogen balanced vulnerability and "sad rage"—making his character both maddening and lovable.
Important Point: Wilde calls this "alchemy"—something a director can only pray for, not force.
She Wasn’t Supposed to Act in It—But the Cast "Bullied" Her
Originally, Wilde wasn’t cast as Angela. But the ensemble insisted she play the part. She’s glad they did:
- It was cathartic and fun.
- She knew the character completely, even though Angela was different from her.
- The set had rare chemistry—a "like-minded dedication" that made directing and acting smoother.
- She jumped first (making a fool of herself) so the others felt safe doing the same.
She also praises cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra for having her back—but admits she probably won’t direct herself again.
Discovering a New Side of Her Acting
Directing herself unlocked something Wilde had suppressed for years:
- Since youth, she’d been told: "Your face can look quite intense" → Be less expressive.
- Many actors—especially women—are told to shrink themselves.
- Getting older means letting go of that.
In The Invite, she didn’t hold back. She wanted the audience to see Angela’s heart beating.
Important Point: "It was liberating to play someone that vulnerable. People always ask me to play tough people, and I’m not very tough. If most actresses direct, they often show a side of themselves they haven’t been allowed to."
Summary
| Theme | Takeaway |
|---|---|
| Love | Long-term relationships aren’t static—they’re a series of "re-beginnings." |
| Audience | Young people crave honest, adult stories—and they approach them with hope, not cynicism. |
| Theaters | Shared laughter in a dark room is an ancient, vital human ritual worth fighting for. |
| Directing | It’s about empathy, translation, and creating safety for actors to take risks. |
| Acting | Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s truth. And sometimes, you have to direct yourself to finally let it out. |
FAQ
1. What is The Invite about?
It’s a comedy-drama set over one dinner party where two couples—one younger, one older—navigate honesty, desire, and the evolving nature of long-term love.
2. Why did Olivia Wilde fight for a theatrical release?
She believes comedies create a unique communal catharsis when watched with strangers in a theater—a tradition thousands of years old that streaming can’t replicate.
3. Did Olivia Wilde always plan to act in the film?
No. The cast convinced her to take the role. She calls it a "bullying" she’s grateful for—it became one of her most personal performances.
4. How did directing change her acting?
Directing herself meant no one told her to "tone it down." She finally played a character with raw, visible vulnerability—something she’d been discouraged from showing earlier in her career.
5. Will she direct herself again?
She says "probably not"—but she’s glad she did it this once, because it helped her reclaim a part of her artistry she’d lost.
Final Thought: The Invite isn’t just a movie about a dinner party. It’s a reminder that relationships, like great films, are meant to be experienced together—messy, hopeful, and fully felt.
