Dakota Johnson Wants to Direct Her First Feature, Avoid “Toxic Sets,” and Play a Psychopath

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Dakota Johnson, known for films like “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “The Lost City,” and “Suspiria,” is planning to make her directorial debut with a script penned by an autistic actress. She aims to keep telling stories centered around women through her production company TeaTime Pictures, steer clear of harmful work environments, evaluate the success of movies based on their effect on viewers rather than just box office numbers, and expressed interest in portraying a psychopathic character and taking on action roles – remarks she made during an interview on Sunday.

During a press conference at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic, reporters questioned Johnson about venturing into directing from acting and producing. To this, she responded: “I believe I will soon direct a small-scale feature film that is particularly dear to me and closely related to ‘TeaTime.’ I’ll be working on it with Vanessa Burghardt, an exceptionally talented actress who portrayed my daughter in the movie ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth.’

The celebrity expressed: “For a long time, I’ve had doubts about my readiness to direct a full-length movie. I lack self-assurance. However, with her, I feel a strong sense of protective instinct, I know her intimately, and…I simply won’t allow anyone else to take on this task.

As a director, Johnson has previously produced the Coldplay music video titled “Cry Cry Cry” and the short film named “Loser Baby“.

She tends to gravitate towards TeaTime projects that offer something unique and thought-provoking, neither typical nor commonly found on television or streaming platforms today. These projects often focus on female characters, presenting them in a fresh, complex, and nuanced manner, sometimes even as anti-heroes whom we find ourselves rooting for. Johnson also mentioned the possibility of projects centered around a woman who performs actions that might be considered questionable, but whose anger and realism make us sympathize with her.

By taking up production, she gains the advantage of being surrounded by individuals who foster a favorable work environment. “I can no longer afford to spend my time in harmful workplaces,” Johnson stated. “That’s one of the benefits of production.

From a young age, she was quite outspoken about any issues that surfaced on set or off, and this continues to be the case. Now, as a producer working on her own films, she has the freedom to select everyone involved in the production process.

The star suggested alternative methods for determining the effectiveness of films, stating, “I believe the benchmark for this is currently changing. It’s challenging to gauge success merely by box office earnings now, as they’re so unpredictable.” She went on to say that movies like “Jurassic Park Dominion” have been hugely successful, but her definition of success lies in “the impact it had on people – whether it touched their hearts or left a lasting impression.” This is evident when fans approach her and express their admiration for a particular film.

Before collecting the KVIFF President’s Award on Saturday night during a showing of her latest film “Materialists,” directed by Celine Song and co-starring Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, Johnson took some time out to address the press.

In the Kansas City Film Festival (KVIFF), Johnson’s second presentation was the romantic comedy “Splitsville,” directed by Michael Angelo Covino. Not only did she present it, but she also produced this film under her TeaTime Pictures banner, which was established in 2019 together with her producing partner Ro Donnelly.

Does she have any roles she’s excited to perform in the future? “I have roles I aspire to play,” Johnson mentioned. “I’d be thrilled to portray a psychopath, and I’d love to star in an action movie.

At the age of 10, Johnson first appeared on screen in the 1999 movie “Crazy in Alabama” directed by Antonio Banderas. Later, in 2010, she featured in David Fincher’s film “The Social Network”. More recently, her work has been seen in movies like Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter” from 2021 and Carrie Cracknell’s “Persuasion” from 2022. Upcoming, Johnson will star in the Michael Showalter-directed romance thriller “Verity” on Amazon, alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.

Festival organizers pointed out Dakota Johnson’s continued adherence to her family’s longstanding acting legacy, demonstrated by her grandmother Tippi Hedren, as well as both of her parents – esteemed Hollywood actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson – when they announced she would journey to the charming Czech spa town to accept an honor.

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2025-07-06 17:24