For many months now, I had been hearing that Olivia Wilde, riding high off the excellent reviews for “The Invite,” was going to start production on her next directorial effort, set up at Universal, this coming August.
Just to be clear, having read the script back in 2024, although dubbed a Christmas movie, “Naughty” is a mix of drama and comedy, blending fantasy with realism. The screenplay was written by “Cocaine Bear” scribe Jimmy Warden, and there’s good reason a bidding war erupted over it back in 2023, with Universal ultimately landing the winning bid.
In an interview with The Cut, without mentioning the project by name, Wilde says her next directorial effort will start shooting “soon.” She describes the film as both “heartbreaking” and “hilarious.”
The film follows Mallory, a single mother who sets out to find Santa Claus, believing he’s the only one who can help her win custody of her son by testifying in her divorce case. It’s an odd premise, but on the page, it works very well.
Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Josey McNamara are producing through their LuckyChap production company, alongside Wilde and Warden.
Wilde shot “The Invite,” her third feature after “Booksmart” and “Don’t Worry Darling,” in just 21 days. The result? A Sundance bidding war, ultimately won by A24 for $12 million, and strong reviews. An 82 on Metacritic hints at a possible Oscar contender, at the very least for Rashida Jones and Will McCormack’s talky screenplay.
Wilde had to live through all the drama surrounding her 2022 flop “Don’t Worry Darling,” which took a beating from critics. Yet, according to her, that film’s failure—and her decision to go back to basics with a $20 million indie, “The Invite”—felt “liberating.” She’s now set to move on to another film.
Many thought this one might show up this awards season, especially given the recent pedigree of Kwedar and his writing partner Clint Bentley. The film wrapped production in October 2025.