Shia LaBeouf denies he was fired from Harry Styles’ role in Don’t Worry Darling

Actor refutes comments from director Olivia Wilde that his ‘combative energy’ on set was reason he left production

Shia LaBeouf has denied that he was fired from the role eventually played by Harry Styles in the forthcoming thriller Don’t Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde.

According to an email he sent to Variety, the actor said he left the project “due to lack of rehearsal time”. He also forwarded to Variety an email he had sent to Wilde in response to her comments about his behaviour on set.

Quoted in an earlier article in Variety, Wilde said that “[LaBeouf’s] process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions … He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances. I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job.”

LaBeouf was originally cast as the male lead opposite Florence Pugh in the psychological thriller about a married couple living in a town dominated by a sinister company. He left the role in August 2020 and was replaced by Styles. Later that year LaBeouf was sued by his former girlfriend FKA twigs for sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress. LaBeouf’s attorney said in a court filing that the actor “denies generally and specifically each and every allegation” in the complaint.

Wilde added: “A lot came to light after this happened that really troubled me in terms of his behaviour … I knew that I was going to be asking [Pugh] to be in very vulnerable situations, and my priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported.”

In his email to Variety, LaBeouf quotes a message he claims he sent to Wilde: “I am a little confused about the narrative that I was fired, however. You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors & I couldn’t find time to rehearse.”

He adds: “Firing me never took place … It is not the truth. So I am humbly asking, as a person with an eye toward making things right, that you correct the narrative as best you can.”

LaBeouf also included a series of texts and messages between himself and Wilde, which he says shows he left the film voluntarily.

Wilde’s representatives have been contacted for a response.

Contributor

Andrew Pulver

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Don’t Worry Darling review – panic! Harry Styles drama offers cause for concern
Styles’s accent is intentionally dodgy, but the rest of Olivia Wilde’s unconvincing tale of dystopian suburbia does not have the same excuse

Peter Bradshaw

05, Sep, 2022 @5:00 PM

Article image
Don’t Worry Darling review – Styles over substance
Florence Pugh is phenomenal in Olivia Wilde’s beautiful-looking Stepford Wives-like thriller. But the story barely holds together – ditto Harry Styles as the husband

Wendy Ide

24, Sep, 2022 @2:00 PM

Article image
Don’t dribble, darling: did Harry Styles really spit at Chris Pine?
The internet was already frothing at the mouth over the backstage wrangles on Olivia Wilde’s new film. And then its stars started opening their mouths

Stuart Heritage

06, Sep, 2022 @12:30 PM

Article image
Olivia Wilde shuts down Don’t Worry Darling rumours amid controversy
The director dodged awkward questions over Florence Pugh and Shia LaBeouf ahead of the film’s Venice premiere

Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent

05, Sep, 2022 @2:53 PM

Article image
The empty feminism of Don’t Worry Darling
After all of the buzz, rumors and reports of conflict, Olivia Wilde’s slippery 50s-set thriller doesn’t really have much of anything to say

Adrian Horton

26, Sep, 2022 @2:47 PM

Article image
What’s up with Olivia Wilde, Harry Styles and Florence Pugh? The worry over Don’t Worry Darling
Have the headlines, memes and receipts been dominating your tabs? As the film gets set to premiere at Venice, here’s a quick summary to catch you up

Michael Sun explains it to Steph Harmon

05, Sep, 2022 @4:59 AM

Article image
Don’t Worry Darling shows all publicity is good publicity at the box office
Olivia Wilde’s suburban thriller has opened strongly despite reports of backstage wrangles and being panned by critics

Catherine Shoard

27, Sep, 2022 @2:44 PM

Article image
Sources deny Harry Styles spat on Chris Pine at the Don’t Worry Darling premiere
The singer turned actor had been the focus of a viral clip that allegedly shows him spitting on his co-star at the Venice film festival

Catherine Shoard

06, Sep, 2022 @4:34 PM

Article image
What links Harry Styles to Ipswich Town and Humphrey Bogart?
When you dive down the rabbit hole, you can go in only one direction: straight to pop’s foremost charmer, via Shania Twain, John Huston and Olivia Wilde

Larry Ryan

21, May, 2022 @12:00 PM

Article image
Cate Blanchett and Harry Styles to head to Venice for 2022 edition of film festival
Competition slots for jailed Iranian director Jafar Panahi, Martin McDonagh and Darren Aronofsky, while actors on show range from past winner Blanchett to Bill Nighy and Harry Styles

Andrew Pulver

26, Jul, 2022 @1:44 PM