Scarlett Johansson is making her directorial debut with 'Eleanor the Great,' a drama that deeply moved her. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. Johansson was particularly touched by the screenplay, drawing comparisons to independent films from the 90s.
The movie follows Eleanor Morgenstein, a 90-year-old woman in Florida, who moves to New York City after the death of her best friend and forms an unlikely friendship with a 19-year-old student. June Squibb stars as Eleanor, with Erin Kellyman playing the student. The cast also includes Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jessica Hecht.
Johansson secured partnerships with Sony Pictures Classics and TriStar for the project. She expressed feeling fortunate to have the support of these established production companies. The film explores themes of love, acceptance, forgiveness, and grief.