James Gray Updates On Scarlett Johansson’s Absence From ‘Paper Tiger’ Premiere In Cannes

At a Cannes wherever immoderate person grumbled astir a paucity of workplace movies (and frankincense stars), nan absence of Scarlett Johansson astatine past night’s premiere of Paper Tiger was notable. During nan movie’s rousing 10-minute opinionated ovation head James Gray tried to make a telephone to nan actress, according to reports and societal media videos. The telephone wouldn’t link aliases he couldn’t get through.

At slightest 1 study had nan character missing nan premiere because she was filming Universal’s radical redo of The Exorcist, her engagement successful which was first reported by Deadline.

Today astatine a property conference, Gray took a infinitesimal to publication a missive from Johansson. The character didn’t connection a logic for her absence, but did apologize for it.

Here’s nan afloat statement:

Working pinch James and this bonzer formed was 1 of nan awesome pleasures of my career. I consciousness truthful fortunate to person been portion of a communicative truthful profoundly rooted successful what matters most: quality connection, personality and nan measurement our values germinate crossed generations. I’m sorry I can’t beryllium location pinch you today. James, I cognize you are reference this correct now and this portion will make you genuinely queasy. My apologies. But I want you to cognize really overmuch it intends to maine to person been portion of thing that you created pinch specified attraction and volition that came from nan depths of your creator soul. The information and sensitivity towards nan quality information successful this movie is truthful evident connected screen, each framework of it, and I americium truthful extraordinarily proud to person been portion of it. To everyone watching and penning astir this film, convey you for sitting pinch our story. Cinema has this uncommon and singular powerfulness to link america to 1 different done a shared experience. It happens successful nan dark, wherever we can’t spot each other’s faces, and yet someway we tin consciousness each other’s presence, each other’s empathy. That corporate empathy is thing we could surely usage much of correct now.

Director Mike Flanagan’s type of The Exorcist has been billed arsenic an all-new communicative and not connected to nan world of nan franchise. Johansson’s schedule was an constituent that had to beryllium massaged when she took on task precocious past year.

Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor nan Great world premiered astatine nan 2025 Cannes Film Festival.