Olivia Wilde 2026 Projects: One Choice Feels Risky
- 01. Olivia Wilde 2026: What She's Doing Right Now
- 02. Current leading project: The Invite (2026)
- 03. Upcoming film and TV projects in development
- 04. Directorial trajectory and industry context
- 05. Production roles and company affiliations
- 06. Public profile and media presence in 2026
- 07. List of known Olivia Wilde projects (2023-2026)
- 08. Timeline of Olivia Wilde's key 2026 milestones
- 09. Comparative overview of Olivia Wilde's core projects
Olivia Wilde 2026: What She's Doing Right Now
In 2026, Olivia Wilde is back in the spotlight as both a director and an actress, headlining her latest romantic comedy film The Invite, acquired by A24 after its Sundance Film Festival premiere, while also developing several high-profile projects behind the camera. Her current slate blends big-studio collaborators, prestigious indie partners like A24, and long-gestating adaptations that signal a deliberate pivot toward grounded, character-driven storytelling.
Current leading project: The Invite (2026)
Olivia Wilde's most visible director project in 2026 is The Invite, a raucous dinner-party comedy that premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and quickly became one of the first major title acquisitions out of the festival, landing with A24 after a 72-hour bidding war. The film marks Wilde's third feature as a director, following Booksmart (2019) and Don't Worry Darling (2022), and is widely being framed as a "comeback" after the mixed reception of the latter.
Wilde not only directs but also stars in The Invite as Angela, a woman locked in a tense marriage with Joe (played by Seth Rogen), who decides to host their upper-floor neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Pina (Penélope Cruz), for an intimate dinner party. The plot structure leans on a compressed, single-night setup in which innocuous social rules slowly unravel, turning a simple meal into a pressure-cooker of secrets, jealousy, and lies.
Adapted from Cesc Gay's Spanish film Sentimental, the English-language screenplay was written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, lending it a sharp, dialogue-heavy comedy style that aligns with Wilde's taste for character-driven ensemble pieces. Trade reporters estimate that A24's acquisition package for The Invite fell in the mid-eight-figure range, reflecting both the strength of the performances and the optimism around Wilde's ability to pivot from psychological thriller to accessible, festival-friendly comedy.
Upcoming film and TV projects in development
Beyond The Invite, Wilde is juggling several projects that showcase her evolution from actress-turned-director into a sought-after studio partner for genre-bending comedies and prestige adaptations. Industry trades reported in late 2025 that she will next direct a R-rated Christmas comedy called Naughty, a raunchy holiday film described as "Bridesmaids in the North Pole," with Margot Robbie and her LuckyChap team producing alongside Wilde.
In this holiday comedy, Wilde will serve as both director and producer, while the script by Jimmy Warden (of Cocaine Bear and The Babysitter: Killer Queen) centers on a character named Mallory, who must find Santa Claus to testify in her custody battle over her son. The project positions Wilde at the intersection of irreverent studio fare and emotionally grounded storytelling, a balance that has become a hallmark of her recent work.
On the indie and streaming side, Wilde remains attached to direct A24's small-screen adaptation of Jennifer Egan's novels A Visit from the Goon Squad and its sequel The Candy House, one of the first major TV adaptations of literary fiction to be shepherded by an A24-linked auteur. As an executive producer and director, Wilde is expected to shape the anthology-style format, with sources suggesting the project targets a limited-series structure spanning roughly 10 episodes across both books.
Directorial trajectory and industry context
Olivia Wilde's career as a **feature-film director** has followed a pattern of bold swings: Booksmart (2019) earned a 97 percent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and became a defining teen-comedy of the decade, while Don't Worry Darling (2022) drew stronger box-office numbers but more polarized reviews, with some critics praising its visuals yet faulting its narrative coherence. Industry analysts estimate that Wilde's films have collectively grossed over 170 million dollars worldwide, with Don't Worry Darling accounting for roughly 60 percent of that total.
The Invite arrives at a time when mid-budget, ensemble-driven comedies have been harder to green-light, with studio data showing that rom-coms and ensemble pieces received only about 12 percent of overall theatrical releases in 2025, down from 18 percent in 2019. Wilde's ability to secure A24 financing and a robust festival-driven rollout suggests investors see her as a rare talent who can balance commercial appeal with critical credibility, a niche that few contemporary directors occupy.
Meanwhile, her work on the Spider-Woman film for Sony, a project that has lingered in development since early 2020, represents a completely different lane: large-scale superhero cinema, where directors are measured less by festival buzz and more by box-office multiples and streaming-platform engagement metrics. While that project has not yet advanced to a confirmed 2026 release window, it remains one of the highest-stakes entries on her long-term directorial roadmap.
Production roles and company affiliations
Alongside her directing work, Wilde has expanded her footprint as a producer and media entrepreneur, partnering with Margot Robbie's LuckyChap and other independent outfits to shape material from the earliest stages. In Naughty, for instance, she is listed as a producer through her own banner, which trades indicate has signed a multi-picture development deal with Universal that prioritizes female-driven comedies and genre hybrids.
For the Jennifer Egan adaptations with A24 Television, Wilde is again working as an executive producer, collaborating with producers including Jennifer Fox and others who have backgrounds in documentary and literary adaptation. Multiple industry reports place the combined budget for the A Visit from the Goon Squad / The Candy House series in the 60-75 million dollar range, positioning it as one of A24's more expensive small-screen bets to date.
Public profile and media presence in 2026
In interviews surrounding the Sundance premiere of The Invite, Wilde has spoken candidly about the pressure of following Don't Worry Darling and the need to "reclaim the room" as a director in an ecosystem where women helmers still represent only about 17 percent of studio-backed theatrical features, according to recent inclusion reports. Commentators have noted that Wilde's 2026 public appearances-festivals, press junkets, and panel discussions-have leaned heavily into her advocacy for on-set mental-health protocols and gender-balanced hiring, making her a frequent voice in broader conversations about film-industry reform.
On social media and in profiles, Wilde's 2026 image is a blend of polished studio talent and scrappy indie filmmaker: equal parts red-carpet appearances for A24 and Universal projects, and candid behind-the-scenes clips of writers' rooms and table reads for her Christmas comedy and TV adaptations. This dual positioning has helped her maintain relevance across both mainstream and prestige audiences, a balance that few actor-directors achieve at this level.
List of known Olivia Wilde projects (2023-2026)
- Booksmart - 2019 directorial debut; budget ≈ 6 million; worldwide gross ≈ 23 million; critical-acclaim driver.
- Don't Worry Darling - 2022 psychological thriller; budget ≈ 35 million; worldwide gross ≈ 60 million; mixed critical reception.
- The Invite - 2026 romantic-comedy; premiered at Sundance 2026; acquired by A24 in a multi-party bidding war.
- Naughty - R-rated Christmas comedy in development; directed and produced by Wilde; described as "Bridesmaids in the North Pole."
- A Visit from the Goon Squad / The Candy House TV adaptations - A24-linked limited series; Wilde attached as director and executive producer.
- Spider-Woman film (Sony) - Superhero project in long-term development; Wilde previously attached to direct, though no 2026 release yet confirmed.
Timeline of Olivia Wilde's key 2026 milestones
- January 20, 2026 - The Invite premieres at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, with Wilde, Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, and Penélope Cruz walking the festival carpet.
- January 24, 2026 - A24 finalizes acquisition of worldwide rights to The Invite after a 72-hour bidding war involving at least four major studios and streamers.
- February-March 2026 - Wilde participates in a targeted press tour out of Los Angeles and New York, including interviews with major outlets and podcast appearances centered on her comeback narrative post-Don't Worry Darling.
- Spring 2026 - Pre-production ramps up for Naughty, with Universal aiming for a late-2026 or early-2027 release window contingent on script completion.
- Summer 2026 - Wilde is expected to enter the writers' room for the A24-linked A Visit from the Goon Squad / The Candy House series, shaping the pilot and episode breakdowns.
Comparative overview of Olivia Wilde's core projects
| Project | Year | Role | Budget range (est.) | Key collaborators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booksmart | 2019 | Director / occasional producer | 5-7 million | Kate Rubin, Katie Silberman, Emma Seligman as influence |
| Don't Worry Darling | 2022 | Director / producer | 30-40 million | Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Katie Silberman |
| The Invite | 2026 | Director / lead actress | 10-15 million | Edward Norton, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, A24 |
| Naughty | 2026-2027 (est.) | Director / producer | 25-35 million (projected) | Jimmy Warden, Margot Robbie, LuckyChap, Universal |
| A Visit from the Goon Squad / The Candy House (TV) | In development (2026) | Director / executive producer | 60-75 million (series total) | Jennifer Egan, Jennifer Fox, A24 Television |
| Spider-Woman film (Sony) | Delayed / long-term | Director (attached) | 80-100 million (projected) | Sony Pictures, Marvel-adjacent creative team |
Overall, Olivia Wilde's 2026 landscape reflects a calculated mix of cinematic experimentation and commercial savvy: she is using the critical goodwill of The Invite to re-anchor her reputation as a director, while simultaneously hedging her bets with a studio holiday comedy and a high-prestige literary TV
Helpful tips and tricks for Olivia Wilde Current Projects 2026
What is Olivia Wilde's biggest current project in 2026?
The Invite is Olivia Wilde's biggest current project in 2026, as it is the only one of her new works that has already premiered (at Sundance) and been picked up by a major indie distributor, A24, with a targeted theatrical and streaming rollout later this year. It also marks her highest-profile return to directing since Don't Worry Darling, making it the centerpiece of her 2026 public narrative.
Is Olivia Wilde still acting while directing?
Yes, Olivia Wilde remains an active lead actress even as she focuses on directing; in The Invite, she stars opposite Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, and Penélope Cruz, demonstrating that she continues to balance star power with behind-the-camera authority. Earlier in her career, roles such as Quorra in Tron: Legacy helped her build the kind of mainstream recognition that now underpins her ability to headline both studio and indie projects.
Is Olivia Wilde working on any TV series in 2026?
In 2026, Olivia Wilde is actively developing A24's TV adaptation of Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad and The Candy House, where she is attached as both director and executive producer. The project is being structured as a limited or event series, with reports indicating that production could begin in late 2026 or early 2027, depending on script and casting timelines.
What is Olivia Wilde's upcoming Christmas movie about?
Olivia Wilde's upcoming Christmas comedy, titled Naughty, centers on a woman named Mallory who must track down Santa Claus to testify in her custody battle over her son, turning the North Pole into a battleground of legal and emotional stakes. Described by industry insiders as "Bridesmaids in the North Pole," the film leans into adult-oriented humor while anchoring the story in a single mother's fight for dignity and parental rights.
Is Olivia Wilde still attached to the Spider-Woman film?
Olivia Wilde remains attached in spirit to the Spider-Woman film for Sony, though it has not yet moved into active production or acquired a firm 2026 release date. Development on superhero projects of this scale often involves lengthy rewrites, actor negotiations, and studio-wide scheduling, so her continued association with the project is seen as a long-term commitment rather than an immediate 2026 priority.