Dakota Johnson will make her feature directorial debut on drama A Tree Is Blue, we can confirm, with Vanessa Burghardt (Cha Cha Real Smooth), Charli XCX (Erupcja) and Jessica Alba (Sin City) in negotiations to star.
Burghardt wrote the script for the movie, which World Of Reel previously revealed will tell the story of a young woman on the autism spectrum who breaks free from her overprotective but loving mother in search of freedom, friendship, and a little chaos in the summer after high school graduation. Johnson’s Cha Cha Real Smooth co-star Burghardt, who is making her screenwriting debut on the film, is herself autistic.
Principal photography is set to begin in November in LA. CAA Media Finance is handling sales. The film comes with a budget under $10M and has qualified for $2.4M in California tax credit.
The film will be financed by Rivulet Entertainment. Dakota Johnson, Ro Donnelly and Sam Racanelli will produce for TeaTime Pictures, and Rob Paris and Mike Witherill will produce for Rivulet. TeaTime’s Hyunji Ward will executive-produce alongside Rick Steele.
The Materialists and Fifty Shades star Johnson previously directed the short film Loser Baby, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival.
This is the latest movie project confirmed for pop star Charli XCX, whose flurry of recent acting credits include A24’s The Moment, cult horror film Faces of Death, Greg Araki’s erotic thriller I Want Your Sex, Cathy Yan’s The Gallerist, Julia Jackman’s period fantasy 100 Nights Of Hero, Romain Gavras’ satirical action Sacrifice, and Pete Ohs’ intimate drama Erupcja. She is also co-executive producing the score for the A24 film Mother Mary with Jack Antonoff.
Johnson is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Johnson Shapiro. Burghardt is represented by Arise Artists Agency and Bloch Law. Charli XCX is represented by CAA and Good World Management. Alba is represented by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Sloane, Offer.
The post Dakota Johnson Confirmed To Make Directorial Debut With ‘A Tree Is Blue’; Vanessa Burghardt, Charli XCX & Jessica Alba In Talks To Star appeared first on Deadline.
