Olivia Wilde Directs and Stars in 2026 Marital Comedy 'The Invite'

What Happened

Olivia Wilde returns to the director's chair and takes a starring role in The Invite, a 2026 comedic film exploring marital dynamics. Set in a suburban San Francisco neighbourhood, the narrative follows homemaker Angela, played by Wilde, and her husband Joe, a dissatisfied music teacher portrayed by Seth Rogen. The central plot is triggered when the couple hosts their upstairs neighbours, Pina (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), for a dinner party.

According to a review published by the South China Morning Post, which awarded the film four out of five stars, Joe is heavily frustrated by the neighbours' loud sexual encounters at 4:00 am. Angela, however, approaches the situation with curiosity rather than irritation. As the dinner conversation shifts toward sexuality, Angela and Joe are forced to confront the reality of their own relationship. The review characterises the A24 film as a breezy, dialogue-heavy production that effectively uses dry humour to examine its characters' flaws.

Background

The Invite is an English-language adaptation of The People Upstairs, a 2020 Spanish feature written and directed by Cesc Gay. Gay's Spanish film was originally based on his own stage play, a lineage reflected in the theatrical, conversation-driven format of the American adaptation. Wilde, whose previous directing credits include the psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling, shifts into a lighter tone with this project. The South China Morning Post noted that the comedic approach allows the film to address its themes more effectively than recent dramatic television adaptations, specifically contrasting it with HBO's remake of Scenes from a Marriage.

Key Facts

• Olivia Wilde directs and stars as Angela, alongside Seth Rogen as her husband Joe.
• Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton portray the upstairs neighbours, Pina and Hawk.
• The film is an adaptation of Cesc Gay's 2020 Spanish film and stage play, The People Upstairs.
• The South China Morning Post awarded the A24 release a four-star rating.
• Wilde previously directed the feature film Don't Worry Darling.