Key Facts
- ‘The Invite’ premiered at Sundance in January 2026 and was acquired by A24 for over $12 million.
- The film stars Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Ed Norton, and Seth Rogen.
- Screenwriters Rashida Jones and Will McCormack adapted the script from Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish film ‘The People Upstairs’.
- Jones and McCormack consulted relationship therapist Esther Perel while writing the script.
- The duo is also writing a feature-length ‘Tom and Jerry’ film for Warner Bros. Animation, described as a rom-com.
Details of ‘The Invite’
‘The Invite’ is a couples dramedy that examines marital bitterness, unfulfilled fantasies, and the complexities of long-term relationships. The film follows two couples whose dinner party unravels into confrontations about fertility, perimenopause, toxic masculinity, financial strain, and female pleasure. Jones and McCormack aimed to keep the dialogue authentic, avoiding clichés. “We both have an internal cheese meter we’re constantly checking in with,” Jones told Variety. “Conversations have to feel like ones real people have. The poetry has to come from the truth.”
Impact and Reception
The film revived a subdued Sundance, sparking a bidding war that A24 won. Critics praised its honest portrayal of middle-aged relationships. Jones and McCormack, who previously wrote ‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’, said this film reflects their own life experiences. “The most heartbreaking moments of our lives have also been the funniest,” McCormack said. “‘Celeste and Jesse’ was about the heartbreak of love, and ‘The Invite’ is really about the heartbreak of life.”
What Readers Should Know
Jones and McCormack consulted Esther Perel to deepen the script’s emotional truth. Jones noted that the film ultimately endorses marriage: “We want people to evolve, and we want to forgive them. We can do that with kids and with friends. But our partners — those relationships start to get into trouble when we can’t show acceptance.” The film releases in limited theaters on June 26 before a wide rollout.
Future Projects: Tom and Jerry
The writing duo is also working on a feature-length ‘Tom and Jerry’ film for Warner Bros. Animation. They see the classic cat-and-mouse rivalry as a relationship comedy. In their version, Tom and Jerry are rescued by two people who fall in love, prompting the animals to try to break them up. “It’s a rom-com in the style of ‘La La Land’,” McCormack said. “Why are these characters fighting so much? Because they want to be seen, and they want to be loved. The logline of our film is literally ‘Love is worth fighting for.’”
FAQ
What is ‘The Invite’ about?
‘The Invite’ is a couples dramedy starring Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Ed Norton, and Seth Rogen. It explores marital bitterness, unfulfilled fantasies, and the challenges of middle age, adapted from Cesc Gay's Spanish film ‘The People Upstairs’.
Who wrote ‘The Invite’?
The film was written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, longtime friends and writing partners known for ‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’.
What advice did Esther Perel give for the script?
Relationship expert Esther Perel consulted on the script, helping the writers deepen the portrayal of marriage and acceptance. Jones noted that the film endorses marriage by showing the importance of evolving and forgiving partners.
What is Jones and McCormack's Tom and Jerry project?
They are writing a feature-length Tom and Jerry adventure for Warner Bros. Animation, described as a rom-com in the style of ‘La La Land’, where the cat and mouse try to break up their owners' relationship.
Source: variety.com