Scarlett Johansson reveals real reason behind making ‘Eleanor the Great’

Hollywood actress turned director discusses her directorial debut at TIFF

By Web Desk
September 08, 2025
Scarlett Johansson reveals real reason behind making ‘Eleanor the Great’

Scarlett Johansson has recently revealed real purpose behind her first directorial movie, Eleanor the Great.

The Black Widow actress opened up that she wanted to tell a story of an elderly woman, who is a Holocaust survivor, played by June Squibb.

Scarlett noted that not “all movies have to deliver a message”.

People can live inside the movie and take away what they do as the Lucy actress stated, “Sometimes just being able to sit in somebody else’s shoes for an hour and 40 minutes — that’s enough.”

Scarlett Johansson reveals real reason behind making ‘Eleanor the Great’

Elsewhere in the interview at the Variety Toronto Film Festival Studio, Scarlett shared that she really wanted the opportunity to work with seasoned actress, June.

“I want to direct her and experience June to discover the character and even help her to comprehend the elements of her role at a deeper level.

Scarlett pointed out that’s the main reason she’s most excited about while directing a movie.

Meanwhile, the actress dished that she had “such empathy for that character. I mean, I would’ve played her”.

“It’s such a rare thing to get a script sent to you that’s a little jewel like this one was. It really so rarely happens,” added Scarlett.

Eleanor the Great is slated to release in theatres on September 26.