Adam Driver and Miles Teller soaked up the applause at Cannes 2026 while their co-star was busy filming ‘The Exorcist’ reboot in New York
Saturday night at the Cannes Film Festival delivered one of the most talked-about moments of the year — and it wasn’t even on screen.
James Gray’s crime thriller Paper Tiger wrapped its world premiere at the Grand Théâtre Lumière to a thunderous six-minute standing ovation. The crowd went absolutely wild. And right in the middle of all that chaos, Gray pulled out his phone and tried to FaceTime Scarlett Johansson — live, in front of everyone. She didn’t pick up.
Gray dramatically shook his head as the call went to voicemail, and the entire theater burst out laughing. Honestly? It’s the most relatable thing a director has ever done at Cannes.
Why Scarlett Wasn’t There
Johansson couldn’t make the trip to the South of France because she’s currently deep in production on Universal’s ‘The Exorcist’ reboot in New York. She wasn’t completely MIA, though — she sent a statement that Gray read aloud at Sunday’s press conference.
Gray also cleared the air about that FaceTime moment: “I want to be fair to Scarlett — I didn’t tell her I was going to call. I just thought I’d get lucky.” Classic.
READ MORE: Laurence Fishburne Joins Scarlett Johansson in Mike Flanagan’s New ‘The Exorcist’ Reboot
What ‘Paper Tiger’ Is Actually About
Set in 1986 Queens, New York, the film follows two brothers whose plan to cash in on a Gowanus Canal cleanup goes sideways fast. Irwin Pearl (Teller) is the quiet family man who accidentally witnesses Russian mob activity.
His older brother Gary (Driver), a former cop, tries to pull him out — but only makes things worse. Johansson plays Hester, Irwin’s wife, who becomes the emotional backbone of the whole disaster.
Gray described the film as a deeply classical drama: “Every nation needs a collective myth. But if the American Dream is reduced to money alone, it ultimately dissolves.” Heavy stuff — and apparently, Cannes loved it.
The Driver-Johansson Reunion Nobody Knew They Needed
This marks the first time Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson have shared the screen since Noah Baumbach’s ‘Marriage Story’ back in 2019 — the film that earned both of them Oscar nominations.
On stage, Driver and Teller flanked a visibly emotional Gray as the applause kept going. Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, and director Pawel Pawlikowski were spotted in the audience cheering them on.
Gray’s Long Shot at the Palme d’Or
This is Gray’s sixth film in Cannes competition — and he has never taken home a major prize. ‘Paper Tiger’ is his best shot yet. Neon secured North American distribution rights ahead of the premiere, and with the kind of buzz coming out of the Croisette right now.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival runs through May 23, 2026.
