Scarlett Johansson stepped behind the camera on Monday to film her feature film debut, “Eleanor the Great,” in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood.
It was the first sighting of the 39-year-old former child star on set leading the cast and crew of the film, which already has a distribution deal in place with TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics, according to Variety.
Scarlett worked with two members of her cast – Erin Kellyman and June Squibb – for the outdoor car scene.
The 94-year-old actress – best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Alexander Payne's 2013 film Nebraska – plays the title role of 90-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who returns to New York City from Florida after her best friend of 70 years.
First-time screenwriter Tory Kamen based the character on her late grandmother Elinore, who died in 2020 at the age of 99.
Action! Scarlett Johansson stepped behind the camera on Monday to film her feature film debut, “Eleanor the Great,” in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood
It was the first sighting of the 39-year-old former child star on set, leading the cast and crew of the film, which already has a distribution deal with TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics
Scarlett worked with two members of her cast – Erin Kellyman (left) and June Squibb (right) – for the outdoor car scene
“This is beyond anything I could have hoped for in the last eight years of writing and rewriting and rewriting this script,” Kamen gushed on Instagram last Friday.
“I just wish my grandma Elinore was here to see this, but as we know she hasn’t read the craft.”
The 25-year-old mixed-race Brit – best known for her starring role in the 2022 Disney+ series Willow – took on the role of Eleanor's new 19-year-old friend.
And while June wore a lavender coat, Erin wore a beige leather blazer over a white blouse, a beige sweater vest, baggy brown pants and boots chosen by costume designer Tom Broecker.
Johansson was also joined on set by her cinematographer Hélène Louvart, who previously served as cinematographer for Alice Rohrwacher's 2023 film “La Chimera” and Eliza Hittman's 2020 film “Never Rarely, Sometimes Always.”
In 2022, the two-time Oscar nominee revealed on the Table for Two podcast that her future in the film industry would involve directing and producing more, saying: “My ideal job is a corner office on the Disney Property.” Like a little [bungalow]. This is what I want'
Scarlett cast her former co-star Jessica Hecht, with whom she starred in the 2010 Broadway play “A View From The Bridge” at the Cort Theater, which earned her a Tony Award.
Johansson also cast fellow Marvel action star Chiwetel Ejiofor – who starred in the two “Doctor Strange” films – in a mystery role in “Eleanor the Great,” produced by Sting's wife Trudie Styler.
Scarlett makes sure everything is under control on the set of Eleanor the Great
The director consults with one of the production people for the first time
ScarJo stood with actress Erin Kellyman between takes
The 94-year-old Oscar nominee plays the title role of 90-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who returns to New York City from Florida after the death of her 70-year-old best friend (pictured January 18).
First-time screenwriter Tory Kamen (R) based the character on her late grandmother Elinore (L), who died in 2020 at the age of 99
Kamen gushed on Instagram last Friday: “This is beyond anything I could have hoped for from this script in the last eight years of writing and rewriting and rewriting.” I just wish my grandma Elinore was here to see this, but as you know She hasn't read the specialist literature.
The 25-year-old mixed-race Brit (R) – best known for her starring role in the 2022 Disney+ series Willow – took on the role of Eleanor's new 19-year-old friend
And while June wore a lavender coat, Erin wore a beige leather blazer over a white blouse, a beige sweater vest, baggy brown pants and boots chosen by costume designer Tom Broecker
Johansson was also accompanied on set by her cinematographer Hélène Louvart (l), who previously served as cinematographer for Alice Rohrwacher's 2023 film “La Chimera” and Eliza Hittman's 2020 film “Never Rarely Some Always.”
In 2022, the two-time Oscar nominee revealed on the Table for Two podcast that her future in the film industry would involve directing and producing more, saying: “My ideal job is a corner office on the Disney Property.” Like a little [bungalow]. This is what I want'
Scarlett cast her former co-star Jessica Hecht (R), with whom she starred in the 2010 Broadway play “A View From The Bridge” at the Cort Theater, which earned her a Tony Award
Johansson also cast fellow Marvel action star Chiwetel Ejiofor (pictured Jan. 22), who starred in the two “Doctor Strange” films, in a mystery role in “Eleanor the Great,” produced by Sting's wife Trudie Styler
The Asteroid City star previously wrote and directed the 2009 short film “These Vagabond Shoes” with Kevin Bacon (pictured) and Ellie Goulding's American Express Unstaged concert in 2015
The “Asteroid City” star previously wrote and directed the 2009 short film “These Vagabond Shoes,” starring Kevin Bacon, and Ellie Goulding's 2015 American Express Unstaged concert.
On February 9, Deadline reported that Scarlett will play heroin-addicted FBI informant Carol Blevins in Andrea Arnold's upcoming thriller Featherwood.
But first, viewers can see Johansson and Channing Tatum in Jason Bateman's '60s space race drama Project Artemis, premiering July 12 on Apple TV+
Johansson sipped a warm Starbucks drink on set
She appeared to be in high spirits as she mingled with the cast and crew
The performer wore a New York Yankees baseball cap
The two-time Oscar winner looked focused as she took her place behind the camera
The New York native portrayed Elita in Josh Cooley's animated prequel “Transformers One,” which hits U.S. theaters on September 13th.
Scarlett also played Royal Navy captain Katherine in Kristin Scott Thomas' feature debut North Star, which failed to secure a distribution deal after premiering at the Toronto Film Festival on September 7.
Personally, Johansson has two children – daughter Rose, 9; and son Cosmo, 2 – from her marriage to ex-husband No. 2 Romain Dauriac and third husband Colin Jost.