Scarlett Johansson and Harris Dickinson are poised to make their mark as directors at this year's prestigious Cannes Film Festival. At a Thursday morning press conference in Paris, Thierry Frémaux, the delegate general of Cannes, and president Iris Knobloch announced that these two actors have shifted their focus behind the camera for their directorial debuts, which will feature in the esteemed Un Certain Regard section.
Johansson, renowned for her iconic roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Avengers saga, will unveil "Eleanor the Great." This heartwarming tale follows a spirited 90-year-old Floridian woman who forms an unlikely bond with a 19-year-old student in bustling New York City. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Hecht, and Erin Kellyman.
Meanwhile, Dickinson, a rising star best known for his role in "Babygirl," will make his feature film directorial debut with "Urchin." This gritty drama centers on a drifter (played by Frank Dillane) navigating the streets of London. While Dickinson is venturing into directing, he hasn't abandoned his acting roots – he is set to portray John Lennon in Sam Mendes' upcoming Beatles biopic for Sony, slated for release in 2028.
Elsewhere, the competition lineup at Cannes is a veritable who's who of cinematic heavyweights. Among the highlights is Kelly Reichardt's "The Mastermind," an art-heist drama set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and starring Josh O'Connor and John Magaro. Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier returns to the Croisette after his acclaimed 2021 film "The Worst Person in the World" with "Sentimental Value," featuring Renate Reinsve. Dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi will also be back in Cannes competition with his latest dramatic offering, "A Simple Accident."
Other highly anticipated films at this year's festival include Wes Anderson's whimsical "The Phoenician Scheme," featuring an all-star cast including Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, and Tom Hanks. Richard Linklater's "Nouvelle Vague," starring Guillaume Marbeck and Zoey Deutch, and Ari Aster's chilling "Eddington," with Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler, are also set to premiere on the Croisette.
In total, the festival screened an all-time record of 2,909 feature films during its selection process, making this year's edition more exciting and diverse than ever.
