Olivia Wilde forced to cut ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ trailer ‘sex act’: ‘Really puritanical’

Sex, sex and more sex.

That’s what Oliva Wilde wanted in the trailer for her sophomore directing effort, “Don’t Worry Darling,” starring her boyfriend, Harry Styles, and actress Florence Pugh.

While the internet-breaking trailer did include the “Watermelon Sugar” singer giving oral sex to Pugh’s character, Wilde told the Associated Press on Thursday that she was forced to water down her original vision.

“There’s a lot that had to be taken out of the trailer,” Wilde said when asked about including a “sex act” in the trailer. “The MPA [Motion Picture Association of America] came down hard on me and the trailer at the last second, and I had to cut some shots, which I was upset about because I thought they it took it up another notch.

“But, of course, we still live in a really puritanical society,” the filmmaker continued. “I do think the lack of eroticism in American film is kind of new. Then when it comes to female pleasure, it’s something that we just don’t see very often unless you’re talking about queer cinema.”

Discussing the oral scene, the 38-year-old said that “people are upset with me already over this.” Pugh even expressed frustration — but with fans’ fixation on it — when the steamy trailer dropped on May 2.

“I think it’s a testament to the film,” said Wilde, defending the decision to include it. “We want to be provocative. The idea is not to make you feel safe.”

Pugh, however, told Harper’s Bazaar in August: “When it’s reduced to your sex scenes, or to watch the most famous man in the world go down on someone, it’s not why we do it. It’s not why I’m in this industry.

“Obviously, the nature of hiring the most famous pop star in the world, you’re going to have conversations like that,” she acknowledged. “That’s just not what I’m going to be discussing because [this movie is] bigger and better than that. And the people who made it are bigger and better than that.”

That may be all we hear from the “Black Widow” alum since reports state she has reduced her presence for the movie’s press tour, now planning to only attend its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Meanwhile, Wilde still has some explaining to do on Shia LaBeouf’s early involvement with the movie. Last week, she told Variety that he was originally cast in Styles’ role but was fired to keep Pugh “safe.”

However, the “Honey Boy” actor came back with receipts, including emails where he allegedly explained that he left the film because of a lack of rehearsal time and released a video of Wilde apparently pleading for him not to walk away.

“Don’t Worry Darling” debuts at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 5 and hits theaters on Sept. 23.