Scarlett Johansson’s Directorial Debut Shines at Cannes

Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson stepped into the director’s chair for the first time with Eleanor the Great, a poignant tale of a grieving elderly woman finding new beginnings in New York. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, earning high praise from acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson. “I loved it,” said Anderson, who has worked with Johansson on films like Isle of Dogs and Asteroid City. Despite their collaboration, the 56-year-old director noted that Johansson, a seasoned actress since childhood, didn’t seek his advice for her debut.

Johansson, 40, admitted to Deadline that directing felt more daunting than acting, with the spotlight far brighter when unveiling her vision. “It’s different. As an actor, it’s out of your hands,” she said, confessing the script moved her to tears when she first read it.

Cannes 2025 is buzzing with actors-turned-directors, including Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin), both competing in the festival’s Un Certain Regard section alongside Johansson. Dickinson, 28, playfully urged critics to “be gentle” with his raw, social-realist debut about a London homeless man, which Variety called “starkly effective.”

While male stars like Clint Eastwood and George Clooney have long transitioned to directing, women like Johansson and Greta Gerwig (Barbie) remain exceptions. Nicole Kidman recently highlighted the scarcity of women directing major films, and Stewart echoed the struggle, calling funding for original stories “near impossible” without relying on established franchises.

Johansson’s Eleanor the Great is vying for prizes in a competitive field, but Cannes’ warm audiences, known for lengthy standing ovations, are already embracing this bold new chapter of her career.