A complete timeline of the rumored behind-the-scenes drama and controversies of 'Don't Worry Darling'

"DWD," set for release on September 23, 2022, is described as a psychological thriller set in a utopia in the California desert in the 1950s.

It centers on a housewife named Alice and her partner Jack, who live in an experimental company town where something diabolical lies beneath the surface. Wilde has a supporting role as a character named Bunny.

After the success of Wilde's 2019 feature directorial debut, "Booksmart," there was plenty of hype surrounding her follow-up project. According to Deadline, 18 bidders, including Netflix, were vying to produce and distribute the movie. Wilde ended up choosing New Line.

In April 2020, it was revealed that Pugh, LaBeouf, and Chris Pine would star alongside Wilde in the film.

At the time, Pugh expressed her excitement over being part of "DWD." She reposted a screenshot of Deadline's casting article shared by Wilde on Instagram and tagged the director.

In her caption, Pugh called Wilde "my idol" who "allowed me to be a part of this fecking incredible cast. Shia?!? Chris?!?"

"I can't wait to join this project when all of this is over," she added. "Until then, masks up. Gloves on. Stay home. Read script 17,000 because.. you know.. it's @oliviawilde!! #DontWorryDarling."

According to Deadline and The Wrap, LaBeouf departed due to scheduling conflicts.

Styles, who rose to fame as part of the British-Irish boy band One Direction, made his film debut in Christopher Nolan's 2017 war film "Dunkirk."

Wilde later told Vogue that she was impressed by Styles' acting in the film. She said that his performance "blew me away — the openness and commitment."

Following the updated casting, Wilde shared a split image of Styles and Pugh on Instagram, writing: "Jack and Alice. Very proud to work with these fine folks. #DontWorryDarling."

Variety's report came days after musician FKA Twigs, who previously dated LaBeouf, filed a lawsuit against him, alleging physical and emotional abuse.

LaBeouf told the New York Times via email that "many of these allegations are not true" regarding FKA Twigs and another ex-girlfriend who alleged abuse. But he apologized and said that he has "a history of hurting the people closest to me."

According to Variety, LaBeouf was fired from "DWD."

Insiders told the publication that he was dropped from the movie because he "displayed poor behavior and his style clashed with the cast and crew, including Wilde, who ultimately fired him."

"He is not an easy guy to work with," a source close to the film told Variety, mentioning Wilde's "zero asshole policy" on set.

Actress and musician Rainey Qualley (who goes by Rainsford) released an NSFW video for her song "Love Me Like You Hate Me" starring LaBeouf and her sister Margaret Qualley, who were romantically linked.

In an Instagram post, she called the video a "short choreographed film" and gave a "special thanks" to Wilde.

The Hollywood Reporter said that Wilde actually directed the video but exited due to a clash with LaBeouf.

According to THR, after shooting the video, Wilde, who directed it as a favor to the Qualley sisters, had a period of time to deliver her edit. Before that time expired, LaBeouf reportedly submitted his own cut with the help of the video's producer, Luke Turner.

LaBeouf sent his version in a group email to Wilde and the other creatives involved. According to THR, LaBeouf requested that his cut of the video be used instead of Wilde's, at which point she responded in the email chain: "I'm out."

Wilde told the "Promising Young Woman" director that she adopted the policy after "a very established actor and director in this industry" told her that she had to have "three arguments a day" on set in order to get respect.

"That is the opposite of my process," Wilde said. "And I want none of that."

Wilde slammed the concept "that great art has to come from a place of discomfort and anxiety."

"I do think it may be a uniquely female instinct to say, 'Look, we can be nurturing. And we can multitask,'" she continued. "It doesn't mean that anyone needs to be uncomfortable. And it doesn't mean that I have to constantly remind you of my position, because I don't think anyone on a set has ever forgotten who's in charge."

Wilde said that creatives would "benefit" from removing "the hero narrative" and acknowledge "that a director is a sum of all these parts, that we have the opportunity to delegate to all these incredible people that we've asked to come on board."

Amid production on "DWD," Wilde and Styles became romantically linked in early January 2021 after Page Six published photos of them holding hands at the wedding of Styles' manager, Jeff Azoff.

The romance came two months after People reported that Wilde and Jason Sudeikis, who share two kids together, split and ended their engagement earlier in 2020.

An anonymous insider told Page Six that Pugh seeing Wilde and Styles "all over each other on set did not go down well as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry."

One of the biggest talking points from the "DWD" trailer released in May 2022 was a scene in which Styles' character performed oral sex on Pugh's Alice while on a table.

In interviews, Wilde has specifically highlighted the movie's depiction of sex scenes.

In a January 2022 cover story for Vogue, the director said that her movie was inspired by thrillers like "Fatal Attraction" and "Indecent Proposal." She called them "really sexy, in a grown-up way."

"I kept saying, 'Why isn't there any good sex in film anymore?'" Wilde added.

Wilde also said that a particular scene in the movie would make viewers "realize how rarely they see female hunger, and specifically this type of female pleasure."

In an interview as part of Harper's Bazaar's Icons Issue, Pugh voiced displeasure over "DWD" being "reduced" to sex scenes.

"When it's reduced to your sex scenes, or to watch the most famous man in the world go down on someone, it's not why we do it. It's not why I'm in this industry," Pugh said.

She continued: "Obviously, the nature of hiring the most famous pop star in the world, you're going to have conversations like that. That's just not what I'm going to be discussing because [this movie is] bigger and better than that. And the people who made it are bigger and better than that."

Pugh expressing her contrasting perspective on the movie's sex scenes added to speculation about a rift between her and Wilde.

Wilde has frequently been vocal about her adoration for Pugh's acting both in interviews and on social media.

Pugh previously called Wilde her "idol" when her casting in "DWD" was revealed. But over time, fans analyzing Pugh's Instagram activity have suspected that the actress has become less enthusiastic about the movie.

She didn't like or comment on Wilde's Instagram posts about Styles and Pugh costarring in the movie or the director's praise of Pugh after filming of "DWD" wrapped.

According to BuzzFeed News, Wilde and "DWD" costar Gemma Chan both shared Pugh's Harper's Bazaar cover on their Instagram stories upon its release. The publication said that Pugh reposted Chan's message, but not Wilde's.

Additionally, fans believe that there is bad blood between Pugh and Wilde because the "Midsommar" actress hasn't actively posted about "DWD" on her Instagram feed as she has for her previous projects like "Hawkeye," "Black Widow," and "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish."

And whereas Pugh has used her Instagram to speak out about controversies, like her age gap with ex Zach Braff or her daring, sheer Valentino dress, the actress has yet to comment on rumors about her and Wilde.

Pugh also declined to be interviewed for Wilde's Variety cover released in August 2022, with her publicist telling the publication that the actress is filming "Dune: Part Two" in Budapest.

Wilde told Variety that she's "such an admirer" of LaBeouf's work, but "his 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," she said. "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."

The director said that for her film, "what we really needed was an energy that was incredibly supportive."

"Particularly with a movie like this, I knew that I was going to be asking Florence to be in very vulnerable situations, and my priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported," Wilde said.

Wilde told Variety that she was "blown the fuck away by" Pugh after seeing her in the 2019 horror film "Midsommar."

"I loved the film, but I loved her," Wilde said. "I was just like, 'Well, she's extraordinary. She's clearly the most exciting young actress working today.'"

The director also praised Pugh's and Styles' work ethics.

"She was really a great supporter of his as someone who was newer to a film set," Wilde said. "And he was such a great supporter of hers, as someone who understood it was her film."

An unverified report from Showbiz Galore with no official sourcing stated that there was a massive pay disparity between "DWD" costars Styles and Pugh, an Oscar-nominated actress for her supporting role in "Little Women."

According to Showbiz Galore, Styles and Pugh had salaries of $2.5 million and $700,000, respectively.

In an email to Variety, Wilde said: "The absurdity of invented clickbait and subsequent reaction regarding a nonexistent pay disparity between our lead and supporting actors really upset me."

She continued: "I'm a woman who has been in this business for over 20 years, and it's something that I have fought for myself and others, especially being a director. There is absolutely no validity to those claims."

LaBeouf, whose rep previously declined to comment to Variety, spoke to the publication via email after the publication of Wilde's cover story.

The "Honey Boy" actor said that he quit "DWD" on August 17, 2020 due to insufficient rehearsal time.

LaBeouf said that he emailed Wilde following the publication of her recent cover story, telling the director: "I am greatly honored by your words on my work; thank you, that felt good to read. 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."

LaBeouf also provided screenshots of texts that he said were sent between him and the director at the time of his exit from "DWD.'

According to the messages, the two stars met in person to speak about his departure from the movie and she followed up by texting him: "Thanks for letting me in on your thought process. I know that isn't fun. Doesn't feel good to say no to someone, and I respect your honesty."

The message continued: "I'm honored you were willing to go there with me, for me to tell a story with you. I'm gutted because it could have been something special. I want to make clear how much it means to me that you trust me. That's a gift I'll take with me."

LaBeouf also gave Variety a video that, according to the actor, Wilde sent him two days after he exited the movie.

Per the publication, Wilde recorded herself driving in a vehicle and telling LaBeouf that she wasn't "ready to give up on this yet."

She also seemingly alluded to tension between LaBeouf and Pugh, saying that his departure from "DWD" would be "a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo."

As Variety previously described, Wilde filmed a selfie video while in a car.

"I wanted to reach out because I feel like I'm not ready to give up on this yet, and I, too, am heartbroken and I want to figure this out," she said, addressing LaBeouf.

Wilde continued: "You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you're open to giving this a shot with me, with us. If she really commits, if she really puts her mind and heart into it at this point and if you guys can make peace — and I respect your point of view, I respect hers — but if you guys can do it, what do you think? Is there hope? Will you let me know?"

Pugh has recently been filming two major movies: Christopher Nolan's top secret, star-studded film "Oppenheimer" and the upcoming "Dune" sequel, in which Pugh will play Princess Irulan.

According to The Wrap, Pugh is not confirmed to do additional press for "DWD" outside of the film's world premiere and press conference at the Venice Film Festival in September.

A studio executive for "DWD" also told the publication that Pugh "will be doing greetings for us from the set of 'Dune' because she's not doing press."

Representatives for Wilde and Pugh didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.