Last month, A24 emerged victorious in a heated, multi-studio bidding showdown for “The Invite,” the much-talked-about Sundance title from Olivia Wilde and Annapurna. Offers reportedly went as high as $12 million. Wilde was pushing for a full theatrical rollout, which instantly took Netflix out of the race.
A24 has now slated “The Invite” for a June 26, 2026, summer release. Don’t discount its Oscar odds just yet—word is the indie studio plans to push this one for Screenplay contention, and maybe more, depending on how the field shapes up by next awards season.
“The Invite” centers on a married couple—played by the oddly matched Wilde and Seth Rogen—inviting their neighbors, portrayed by Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton, over for an evening that ignites unexpected twists and turns, revealing deeply repressed emotions and unexplored sexuality.
Wilde’s film received fairly stellar reviews out of Sundance, currently holding a 77% on Metacritic and 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. That summer release is obviously a commercial play—A24 will want to make its $12 million back—but here’s hoping Wilde’s directorial comeback, after the controversial “Don’t Worry Darling,” lives up to the buzz.