Scarlett Johansson has stepped behind the camera for the first time, directing her debut film “Eleanor the Great,” which stars June Squibb and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The new drama debuted as Scarlett Johansson turned 40, marking a significant milestone in her accomplished career. The actress confessed that, while directing was an uncharted experience, it ultimately felt incredibly natural and rewarding for her. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Scarlett Johansson described how the challenge quickly transformed into a familiar environment, saying,
“I didn’t know what it would feel like at all, and I didn’t necessarily have the confidence that I would be able to direct actors. But then in doing it, I realised that I’m always working with actors. I’m working with directors and actors in the development stage, in the rehearsal process, in blocking and giving notes, taking this and applying that. That part of it felt almost immediately pretty natural.”
Her decision to direct “Eleanor the Great” came after encountering a script that resonated deeply with her. Scarlett Johansson admitted that she rarely feels so compelled by a script, explaining,
“Basically never or very, very rarely have I read a script and thought, ‘Oh, I know how I can direct this.’ It doesn’t really happen to me. This script was so moving and it had such potential that, weirdly, I felt very certain that it was something I could be capable of doing.”
Despite this newfound clarity, Scarlett Johansson disclosed the considerable difficulties in bringing her directorial vision to life.
Getting “Eleanor the Great” produced proved far from simple. Scarlett Johansson reflected on the lengthy process and the obstacles she encountered, remarking,
“Things like this take forever to get made. It would be easier to make something that was the sequel of a $180 million movie or a genre movie that was subpar. To get much, much, much less money for an independent film with an original story that has a lead actor who was 94 was very, very, very challenging.”
Johansson’s determination to honor the original story, even with a modest budget, defined her directorial approach.
The journey of making “Eleanor the Great” included many difficult moments. Scarlett Johansson described the production as a “crazy” experience, saying,
“Every day the movie fell apart in 400 different ways.”
Financing became a particularly critical hurdle, and Johansson recounted a tense moment when significant funding depended on removing core elements of the plot. She recalled,
“It once looked like we were going to be able to get the majority of our money from an independent financing company and then right down to the wire, in order for them to make it, we would’ve had to completely dismantle the entire plot device that was driving the narrative engine of the film. It was crazy. At that point, everything just fell apart.”
Actress June Squibb, who stars in “Eleanor the Great,” praised Scarlett Johansson’s approach as a director. Squibb, now 95, expressed her appreciation, sharing,
“She’s so down-to-Earth. She is so real. We really met on that level, the two of us, because we are both that way. With her knowledge as an actress, she knew immediately what I was doing, where I was going and how I was shifting everything. That’s wonderful because you don’t often have that. I’ve worked with wonderful directors that don’t have that kind of knowledge like Scarlett does.”
Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut with “Eleanor the Great” signals an exciting new direction for her career, combining her experience in acting with an intuitive sense for storytelling and production. Her ability to navigate creative and financial challenges showcases a resilience likely to inspire fellow artists and audience members alike. As the film’s unique narrative and Johansson’s vision come together on screen, both the industry and her fans will be watching closely to see the influence this new chapter has on her future projects and on independent filmmaking as a whole.
