Scarlett Johansson on Adam Driver reunion: 'I love working with him'
Synopsis
Six years after their raw, awards-circuit-dominating turn in Marriage Story, Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are back together — this time in a James Gray-directed crime thriller set in 1980s New York. Johansson's candid praise for Driver, and her warm account of bonding with Miles Teller on set, suggest Paper Tiger could be one of the more compelling ensemble pieces of the year.
Key Takeaways
Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver reunite in the upcoming crime thriller Paper Tiger , directed by James Gray .
Johansson plays Hester Pearl , whose family is threatened by the Russian mafia in late 1980s New York .
Johansson told The Hollywood Reporter : 'I love working with him,' referring to Driver.
The pair previously starred together in Marriage Story ( 2019 ), which won four Gotham Awards .
Johansson also praised co-star Miles Teller , describing him as 'so unexpectedly tender.'
Scarlett Johansson has opened up about reuniting with Adam Driver for the upcoming crime thriller Paper Tiger, calling the collaboration a deeply rewarding one. The two previously starred together in Noah Baumbach's acclaimed romantic drama Marriage Story (2019), and Johansson says the chemistry between them remains as strong as ever.
What Johansson Said About Driver
'I would've loved to have had even more scenework with him, I love working with him,' Johansson told The Hollywood Reporter. Her admiration for Driver is rooted in their earlier collaboration, during which the two actors pushed each other through some of the film's most emotionally gruelling sequences.
About Paper Tiger
Paper Tiger, directed by James Gray, is a crime thriller set in late 1980s New York. Johansson plays Hester Pearl, wife to Irwin Pearl. The couple share two sons and lead a stable life until Irwin's brother, Gary, arrives and draws the family into a dangerous entanglement with the Russian mafia.
Bond With Co-Star Miles Teller
Johansson also spoke warmly about her on-set bond with co-star Miles Teller, whom she described as 'so unexpectedly tender.' Even during a brief absence from set — when she stepped away for press duties for Jurassic — Teller kept the connection alive. 'I'd get photographs of my makeup station from Miles and he'd be like, ‘Where’s Hester?’' she recalled.
Looking Back at Marriage Story
Marriage Story followed Johansson and Driver as a couple navigating a painful divorce while negotiating custody of their son. The film, which arrived on Netflix in 2019, went on to claim four wins at the Gotham Awards. Johansson had previously described the shoot as physically and emotionally demanding. 'We spent two entire days screaming at each other, brutally screaming and fighting for two full days,' she told As If magazine at the time. '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 to Expect Next
With Paper Tiger still awaiting a release date, anticipation is building around the Johansson-Driver pairing in a markedly different genre. The shift from a quiet, intimate divorce drama to a period crime thriller signals an ambitious new chapter for both actors — and for director Gray, known for layered, character-driven narratives.
Point of View
Unglamorous, and technically demanding. Their return in Paper Tiger is notable precisely because James Gray's filmography rarely relies on star power alone; he tends to use it to excavate character. The more interesting signal here is Johansson's evident investment in ensemble chemistry — her account of Miles Teller sending set photos while she was away speaks to a production culture that could translate on screen. Whether Paper Tiger can match the emotional weight of Marriage Story in a genre that traditionally prioritises plot over interiority is the real question mainstream coverage is not yet asking.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paper Tiger?
Paper Tiger is an upcoming crime thriller directed by James Gray, set in late 1980s New York. Scarlett Johansson stars as Hester Pearl, whose family is endangered when her husband's brother draws them into conflict with the Russian mafia.
Why are Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver's reunion notable?
The two previously starred together in Marriage Story (2019), a critically acclaimed Netflix film that won four Gotham Awards. Their on-screen chemistry was widely praised, making their Paper Tiger reunion one of the more anticipated Hollywood collaborations.
What did Scarlett Johansson say about working with Adam Driver?
Johansson told The Hollywood Reporter, 'I would've loved to have had even more scenework with him, I love working with him.' She has previously described their Marriage Story shoot as 'exhausting' but creatively essential.
Who else stars in Paper Tiger alongside Johansson and Driver?
Miles Teller co-stars in Paper Tiger. Johansson described Teller as 'so unexpectedly tender' and spoke warmly about the bond they developed during filming.
What was Marriage Story about?
Marriage Story, directed by Noah Baumbach and released on Netflix in 2019, followed a couple played by Johansson and Driver as they navigated a painful divorce and custody dispute. The film won four Gotham Awards and earned widespread critical acclaim.
