A spec script for the psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” which will be directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, has sold to New Line after a hefty auction in which 18 different studios bid on the original project, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
“I ran a horror library out of my bedroom when I was a kid. This feels like a step up. #dontworrydarling,” Wilde tweeted after the announcement was made.
Wilde just made her directorial debut with “Booksmart,” a critical darling released earlier this summer by Annapurna. Wilde is reteaming on the project with the writer for “Booksmart,” Katie Silberman.
Silberman will rewrite the original script from Shane and Carey Van Dyke. And both Wilde and Silberman will also produce along with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon of Vertigo Entertainment.
“Don’t Worry Darling” is a psychological thriller about a 1950s housewife whose reality begins to crack, revealing a disturbing truth underneath.
The thriller should be a good fit for New Line, which this year has already released the sixth film in the “Conjuring” universe “Annabelle Comes Home” and “The Curse of La Llorona,” and the sequel to the Stephen King horror film “It” opens next month.
The project will be overseen at New Line by Daria Cercek and Celia Khong.
Wilde and Silberman also recently sold a holiday-themed comedy pitch to Universal, which is was also part of a bidding war between six different studios.
Wilde is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Ziffren Brittenham LLP. Silberman is represented by MXN Entertainment and Myman Greenspan
The news of the project’s sale was first reported by Deadline.