A24 has unveiled the first trailer for 'The Invite', the Olivia Wilde-directed film starring Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton. The film is set for a limited theatrical release on 26 June.
The part-drama, part-comedy, written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, follows Joe and Angela, a married couple on thin ice. The logline states: 'When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?'
When 'The Invite' debuted at Sundance in January, it captivated audiences and sparked a multi-day bidding war among distributors including Focus Features, Neon, Netflix, Apple, Searchlight and Black Bear. Wilde received a standing ovation at the festival following the screening.
In a closing Q&A, Edward Norton praised Wilde's direction: 'Seth and I both have directed films that we’ve been acting in as well. Inevitably, you come to moments where you say, “This was a terrible decision.” It’s hard for me to overstate the grace and wisdom with which Olivia gave that performance and directed us.'
Variety's chief film critic Owen Gleiberman described it as a 'bravura dinner-party dramedy' that 'keeps you laughing and never stops surprising'. The film is Wilde's third directorial effort, following 'Booksmart' and 'Don't Worry Darling'.
'The Invite' is produced by David Permut, Ben Browning and Megan Ellison. It runs 107 minutes and carries an R rating.
