We definitely can’t say that Florence Pugh is on the cusp of being a major star anymore. Gone are the days Pugh was seen as an up-and-coming talent. After major roles and acclaim, it’s clear the actress is one of the most in-demand performers in the world, and her star power is only going to grow after continued work in massive films in the MCU and the upcoming “Dune: Part Two.” But what about those indie darling roles that put her on the map? Well, despite folks who think she’s too big for that now, Pugh swears she’s not leaving indie work behind as she plots a Marvel future and a blockbuster career.
Speaking to Time Magazine, Florence Pugh talked about her career, including upcoming movies such as “Dune: Part Two” and Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts.” She explained that her move to tentpole films rubbed the indie world the wrong way, especially when she signed on to star in the MCU. As we see with folks who sign big Marvel contracts, there’s a general feeling from indie filmgoers and filmmakers that the studios somehow stole the star away. Pugh wants to remind those people that she’s still willing to make indie films, but scheduling is just a bit more of an issue.
“So many people in the indie film world were really pissed off at me. They were like, ‘Great, now she’s gone forever,’” Pugh explained. “And I’m like, no, I’m working as hard as I used to work. I’ve always done back-to-back movies. It’s just people are watching them now. You just have to be a bit more organized with your schedule.”
The conversation also touched on different topics relating to making films, especially in light of the behind-the-scenes controversy surrounding last year’s “Don’t Worry Darling.” The actress still doesn’t want to talk about that, but when the question about identifying a movie that’s in peril just from the “vibe” on set, Pugh wholeheartedly agreed that you can see the writing on the wall when making a bad movie.
“Definitely,” Pugh said. “A whole film set, it’s everybody making a huge effort because they want to be there. And if someone doesn’t want to be there or if someone isn’t pulling their weight, you can feel it. The film feels wrong.”
With “Dune: Part Two” on the horizon (and “Thunderbolts” arriving next year), it’s clear Pugh is going to be in front of audiences quite a bit in the next couple of years. But hey, let’s hope she peppers in an indie or two, as well.