Cooper Hoffman Joins Olivia Wilde in Provocative Comedy About Workplace Boundaries

Cooper Hoffman has stepped into a lead role opposite Olivia Wilde in the provocative comedy I Want Your Sex, which explores complex workplace dynamics through satire and dark humor. The film arrives in theaters on July 31, marking another significant project for the 23-year-old actor who has built momentum since his breakthrough performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza.

The Project and Plot

I Want Your Sex follows Elliot, portrayed by Hoffman, a directionless twentysomething who encounters a significant career opportunity. Wilde plays Erika Tracy, a provocative artist who employs Elliot as her sexual muse while breaking conventional office boundaries. The film blends multiple genres—satire, romantic comedy, mystery, and murder elements—creating what has been described as an unconventional examination of desire, workplace power dynamics, and personal relationships. Charli XCX and Chase Sui Wonders round out the ensemble cast, with XCX playing Elliot's uptight girlfriend and Sui Wonders as his repressed roommate.

The script's mature themes have generated considerable conversation around its explicit content. When discussing his involvement, Hoffman himself acknowledged the boldness of the material with the comment, "I can't believe people are going to watch this," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A Career Built on Strategic Mentorship

Hoffman's ascent through the industry reflects a deliberate approach to project selection and professional relationships. Following Licorice Pizza, director Paul Thomas Anderson advised the young actor to experience the production hierarchy firsthand. Anderson arranged for Hoffman to work as a COVID production assistant on Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans in summer 2021, a role that involved processing cast and crew health checks—a positioning that reflected Anderson's philosophy about understanding filmmaking beyond its surface glamour.

Subsequent choices reveal Hoffman's alignment with established creative figures. He appeared in Ethan Hawke's Wildcat alongside Hawke's daughter Maya, a childhood acquaintance. He joined the ensemble cast of Saturday Night under director Jason Reitman, who grew up embedded in the entertainment industry. He also worked with Francis Lawrence on The Long Walk, notably the final director to collaborate with his father, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Industry veterans have expressed strong support for the actor. Andrew Garfield noted that many male actors over 40 view Hoffman as someone deserving mentorship, driven by affection for both Cooper and his father's legacy. This network of experienced professionals has created an ecosystem where Hoffman receives guidance from seasoned collaborators rather than navigating the industry alone.

Dispelling Speculation

Recent rumors suggested Hoffman might join Marvel Studios' X-Men reboot as Cyclops, but he quickly clarified the speculation held no merit. In a straightforward response, Hoffman stated he had no involvement with the project and remains uncertain about the rumor's origins, noting simply that "it's just not" happening.