Scarlett Johansson is assembling the cast of her directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great.”
June Squibb, the Oscar-nominated actor of “Nebraska” will be joined by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Broadway veteran Jessica Hecht and Erin Kellyman.
The movie, formerly titled “Eleanor, Invisible,” follows Eleanor Morgenstein (Squibb), a 90-year-old woman trying to rebuild her life after the death of her best friend. As a result, she moves back to New York City after living in Florida for decades. Tory Kamen wrote the screenplay.
TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics, partnering for the first time, will release “Eleanor the Great” in theaters on a yet-to-be-determined date.
Johansson is producing the film with Jonathan Lia, and Keenan Flynn for These Pictures, Kara Durrett and Jessamine Burgum for Pinky Promise, and Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler of Maven Screen Media.
Wayfarer Studios co-financed “Eleanor the Great” with Content Engineers, Pinky Promise and MacPac. Steve Sarowitz, Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath and Andrew Calof are executive producing for Wayfarer Studios. Ezra Gabay and Raj Kishor Khaware are executive producing on behalf of Content Engineers.
This is Squibb’s second recent starring role following the nonagenarian comedy “Thelma,” which sold to Magnolia following its Sundance premiere. She’ll also be seen in “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter Is Dead,” which opens in theaters on April 12 before streaming on BET+. Squibb’s other credits include “Palm Springs,” Pixar’s “Soul” and Amy Schumer’s series “Life & Beth.” She is repped by BRS/Gage Talent Agency.
Squibb could have crossed paths with Ejiofor at this year’s Sundance, where the Oscar-nominated actor debuted his sophomore feature “Rob Peace.” Ejiofor, who was recognized by the Academy for “12 Years a Slave,” is preparing to co-star with two Toms: Hiddleston in the adaptation of StephenKing’s “The Life of Chuck”and Hardy in“Venom 3.” Like Johansson, he’s a veteran of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, having appeared in 2022’s blockbuster “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Ejiofor is repped by Markham, Froggatt and Irwin in the UK, CAA in the US, and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman LLP.
“Eleanor the Great” reunites Johansson with Hecht after they starred in the Broadway play“A View From The Bridge”(which landed them both a Tony nomination). Hecht recently returned to the stage, opposite Laura Linney, in the play “Summer, 1976. She has appeared on shows like “Friends” and Netflix’s “Special.” Hecht is repped by Innovative Artists.
Kellyman will co-star with Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson in Steve McQueen’s film“Blitzfor Apple TV+. Another MCU alum, she portrayed Karli Morgenthau in the Disney+ series“The Falcon And The Winter Soldier.” Kellyman is represented by CAA, Curtis Brown, and Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson + Christopher, LLP.
Johansson and These Pictures is repped by CAA and Yorn Levine. Kamen is represented by Anonymous Content and Valarie Phillips.
