Olivia Wilde says she was initially hesitant to star in “The Invite,” as she and Edward Norton preview the film

Olivia Wilde and Edward Norton previewed their new film “The Invite” in an appearance with CBS News, where they discussed the movie’s themes and their roles in bringing the story to the screen. Wilde, who both stars and directed the film, said she had been initially reluctant to star, addressing the decision-making process behind taking the lead role.

“The Invite” is described as a film about the unraveling and evolution of two very different marriages over the course of an unforgettable evening. During the CBS News segment, the cast previewed how that night functions as a setting for character change, with Wilde and Norton speaking about what drew them to the material.

In the discussion, Wilde and Norton also addressed the extent to which personal experience informed their performances. Both stars described how they approached the characters and whether they drew from their own lives, with the focus on how lived experience can shape the portrayal of relationships under strain.

Wilde’s comments centered on her initial reluctance to star in the project even as she ultimately took on the lead role. CBS News reported that she shared why she was hesitant at first, but the details of that explanation were not included in the CBS News video description.

Norton, who co-stars with Wilde, participated in the conversation about the film’s take on marriage and its changing dynamics. The segment’s framing emphasized the contrast between the two marriages at the center of the story, and how the evening’s events push those relationships toward transformation.

The film’s narrative premise, as presented in the preview, places domestic life in direct tension with the pressure of a single, lasting night. The cast’s remarks also connected that structure to performance choices, including how to sustain emotional escalation and shift tone as the characters move from expectation to disruption.

With Wilde directing while also starring, “The Invite” also highlights the logistical and creative demands of double duty in feature filmmaking. Wilde’s initial hesitation to star, as discussed in the CBS News interview, underscores the balancing act that can accompany directing and acting in the same project, particularly when the story’s focus is relationship tension and character evolution.