Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are back on screen together for the first time since their divorce drama Marriage Story. Their new crime thriller Paper Tiger just premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, and Johansson cannot stop praising her former co-star.
The wait is finally over for fans who loved watching Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver together. The two Hollywood stars reunited for James Gray’s new movie Paper Tiger, which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2026. This marks their first project together in seven years since the 2019 Netflix hit Marriage Story.
Johansson Says She Loves Working With Driver
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Scarlett Johansson opened up about how much she enjoys acting alongside Adam Driver. The 41-year-old actress admitted she wanted even more time with him on set.
“I would’ve loved to have had even more scenework with him. I love working with him.”
Johansson also told PEOPLE magazine that she holds Driver in the highest regard as both a performer and a person.
“I love Adam as a person and he is an absolutely extraordinary actor. If I could make every movie with Adam Driver, I would.”
The two actors previously played a married couple going through a painful divorce in Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. Johansson recalled how intense those filming days were.
“We spent two entire days screaming at each other, brutally screaming and fighting for two full days. It was exhausting, but if I didn’t have as strong an actor as Adam to take all the stuff I was giving him I would have been lost.”
What Is Paper Tiger About?
Paper Tiger tells the story of two brothers who get pulled into a dangerous deal with the Russian mafia. Adam Driver plays Gary, a former cop with a smooth talk and fancy suits. Miles Teller plays Irwin, his quieter brother who works as an engineer. Scarlett Johansson plays Hester, Irwin’s wife and the mother of their two sons.
The movie takes place in New York during the late 1980s. Gary shows up at his brother’s house with big plans to make quick money. He convinces Irwin to join a business deal involving the Russians. But things turn bad very fast. The family ends up trapped in a terrifying situation where their safety is on the line.
The film runs for 1 hour and 55 minutes and carries an R rating. Early reviews from critics at Cannes call it a powerful and intense drama.
Johansson Could Not Attend The Cannes Premiere
Even though Paper Tiger premiered at Cannes, Scarlett Johansson was not on the red carpet. She is currently busy filming a new version of The Exorcist in New York. But her presence was still felt at the festival.
After the screening, the movie received a long standing ovation. Director James Gray tried to FaceTime Johansson so she could see the crowd’s reaction. She did not pick up because she was working. Gray joked about it at the press conference the next day.
“I want to be fair to Scarlett, I did not tell her I was going to video call her. I thought I would get lucky, but she is working in New York.”
Gray then read a message Johansson had sent him. In the message, she expressed how proud she was to be part of the film.
“I feel very lucky to have been part of a story so deeply rooted in what matters most: human connection, identity, and how our values evolve through generations.”
How Did The Crowd React At Cannes?
The premiere audience at the Grand Théâtre Lumière gave Paper Tiger a warm reception. Reports about the standing ovation length vary. Some sources say it lasted seven minutes, while others report ten minutes. Either way, the crowd clearly enjoyed what they saw.
Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, and filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski were among the notable names in attendance. Adam Driver and Miles Teller walked the red carpet and received loud cheers from the crowd.
This is James Gray’s sixth film to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. His previous movies include Armageddon Time in 2022, which got a five-minute standing ovation, as well as The Immigrant, Two Lovers, We Own the Night, and The Yards.
What Critics Are Saying About The Movie
Early reviews from film critics at Cannes praise Paper Tiger as one of James Gray’s best works. The Hollywood Reporter called it a drama of overwhelming power. Critics especially noted Scarlett Johansson’s performance, with some already mentioning her as a possible candidate for the Best Actress award at the festival.
One Spanish publication described Johansson’s character as a lioness mother defending her family while fighting a losing battle with cancer. The review called this aspect of the film fascinating and said it leaves viewers breathless.
Adam Driver also received praise for his role. Critics say this is his best part in some time. His character Gary is described as a calculated charmer who keeps secrets from his own brother while promising easy money.
How The Roles Compare To Marriage Story
The dynamic between Johansson and Driver in Paper Tiger is very different from Marriage Story. In the 2019 film, they played husband and wife going through a brutal divorce. This time, Driver plays the brother of Johansson’s on-screen husband. That makes them in-laws rather than romantic partners.
Johansson’s character Hester is married to Miles Teller’s character Irwin. Driver plays Gary, Irwin’s brother who brings danger to the family. The two actors share only a handful of scenes together. Johansson made it clear she wishes there were more.
The shift in their on-screen relationship shows a different side of both actors. Instead of screaming at each other during a divorce, they now face danger together as family members trying to survive.
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What Happens Next For The Film
Paper Tiger is competing for the Palme d’Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The film is backed by Neon, a studio that has won the top prize at Cannes for several years in a row. Whether this movie continues that streak remains to be seen.
The film will likely get a wider release after the festival ends. Fans who want to see Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver share the screen again will have to wait for official release dates to be announced. The movie is expected to arrive in theaters later this year.
For now, the early word from Cannes is strong. The standing ovation, the positive reviews, and the buzz around Johansson’s performance all point to Paper Tiger being a film to watch when it reaches global audiences.
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