Warner Bros. Pictures’ new specialty film label headed by former Neon execs Christian Parkes, Jason Wald and Spencer Collantes, have joined the bidding war for Olivia Wilde’s sex comedy “The Invite,” according to an insider with knowledge.
A24 and Focus features are circling the project as well. The film was among the buzziest projects at the festival and garnered a standing ovation at the premiere.
“The Invite” stars Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton and follows two couples – one on thin ice, another passionately in love – who convene for dinner. The story takes place over the course of a single evening, but Wilde as director channels “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” for an uproarious, emotional story of relationships in all their messy glory.
Rashida Jones and Will McCormack wrote the script. Producers include David Permut, Ben Browning and Megan Ellison. “The Invite” marks Wilde’s third film as director after “Booksmart” (2019) and “Don’t Worry Darling” (2022).
New Line previously released “Don’t Worry Darling” which opened to a strong $19 million back in 2022.
According to the official press release, “The label will focus exclusively on smartly budgeted global theatrical releases with innovative marketing campaigns that enhance Warner Bros.’ long history of socially relevant, provocative, and impactful cinema.”
In his review of the film, TheWrap’s Adam Chitwood wrote, “The Invite” is about relationships. But the way this chamber drama captures all of it – love, jealousy, anger, sex, depression, middle-age – is truly a thing to behold. Every time you think it’s going to veer into the trite or predictable, Wilde swerves into something more truthful. More meaningful.
Wilde avoids the “nagging wife” tropes, offering dimensionality for her and Cruz’s characters. The cast is more than up for the challenge, and it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility to think “The Invite” ensemble could make a mark on next year’s awards circuit.
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Deadline first reported the news.
The post ‘The Invite’ Bidding Frenzy: New Warner Bros. Film Label Joins Fray for Olivia Wilde Sex Comedy appeared first on TheWrap.
