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Olivia Wilde’s The Invite Opens in Limited Release as A24 Prepares Wider Rollout

Critics have praised Wilde’s direction and the four‑actor ensemble and the film is being positioned as a communal summer theatrical event.

Overview

  • The Invite is a four‑person chamber drama directed by Olivia Wilde that follows a tense, single‑evening dinner between two San Francisco couples and centers on questions of desire and non‑monogamy.
  • The film was developed from a Spanish play and Cesc Gay’s 2020 film by writers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack and premiered on the festival circuit before its current limited U.S. run.
  • Wilde used two weeks of rehearsals, shot largely in sequence on film inside a single apartment, and consulted relationship therapist Esther Perel to shape the film’s tone and dialogue.
  • Reviewers have given warm notices for Wilde’s direction and the ensemble performances of Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton while noting the film treats alternative relationships without prescription.
  • A24 is marketing The Invite as a shared summer viewing experience and plans to expand it more widely after the limited release while Wilde highlights the film’s San Francisco setting and collaborative production process.