A24 has bagged the distribution rights to Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen‘s new film, The Invite. The company secured the rights after a tense bidding battle with rivals. A remake of Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish feature, The People Upstairs, the film recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It also garnered positive reviews from critics. Apart from Wilde and Rogen, the movie stars Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz.
A24 wins Sundance bidding war over Olivia Wilde’s The Invite
Following a lengthy bidding battle, where the production company found itself locked in a three-way competition with Focus Features and Warner Bros. Pictures’ new contemporary film label, A24 secured the rights to Olivia Wilde’s The Invite for reportedly over $10-12 million.
Apart from A24, Focus Features, and WB’s new label, Netflix, Neon, Apple, Searchlight, Black Bear, and Sony participated in the auction.
The Invite marks Wilde’s third feature directorial effort, following 2019’s Booksmart and 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling. It is also her second collaboration with Annapurna Pictures and Megan Ellison, who previously produced Booksmart. Meanwhile, Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones and Celeste and Jesse Forever scribe Will McCormack wrote the film’s screenplay. Wilde reportedly wants a theatrical release for the film.
The story follows a couple, Joe and Angela (Seth Rogen and Wilde), who are facing marital problems. Their life takes an unexpected and twisted turn after a dinner with their neighbors, another couple named Hawk and Pina (Norton and Cruz).
As of writing, on Rotten Tomatoes, the film, reportedly dedicated to the late Diane Keaton, holds an impressive fresh score of 90%.
The film has received positive reviews from critics. Variety‘s Owen Gleiberman called the film “marvelously entertaining.” He said it “[lived up to expectations]” in a manner that’s “so original, so brimming with surprise, so fresh and up-to-the-minute in its perceptions of how relationships work (or don’t), that you watch it in a state of rapt immersion and delight.”
Meanwhile, Nick Schager of The Daily Beast called the film “A hysterical, insightful, and ultimately moving portrait of the difficulties of keeping long-term relationships alive.”
Further, The Hollywood Reporter‘s David Rooney shared, “After the disproportionate bashing Wilde took on Don’t Worry Darling, her new movie should silence the doubters. At this point, it’s hard to deny she’s the real deal as a director.”
Originally reported by Abdul Azim Naushad on ComingSoon.
