Dakota Johnson has officially announced that she will direct her first feature film, based on a screenplay by autistic actress and musician Vanessa Burghardt, at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Speaking alongside her TeaTime Pictures partner Ro Donnelly, Johnson emphasized her protective stance over Burghardt’s story, which centers on a young woman with autism, and her commitment to shepherding it from page to screen.
The announcement builds on Johnson’s earlier short-form directorial work—including the TIFF-premiered Loser Baby—and arrives as she promotes Splitsville, the dark comedy she produced and stars in at Cannes. Industry observers note Johnson’s transition from in-front-of-camera star to behind-the-camera auteur aligns with a broader push for inclusive storytelling and female directors in Hollywood today.
Dakota Johnson confirmed at Cannes that she plans to helm her first full-length feature from a script by Cha Cha Real Smooth actress Vanessa Burghardt. Burghardt, who plays Johnson’s on-screen daughter in that film, is autistic and also a musician, and Johnson praised her as “an unbelievable woman” whose perspective she feels uniquely qualified to realize visually.
Speaking with Ro Donnelly—Johnson’s partner at her TeaTime Pictures banner—she explained, “I just don’t think I could allow anyone else to direct it,” highlighting a deep personal investment in accurately portraying an autism-centered narrative. This protective stance underscores Johnson’s growing role as a producer and emerging director committed to championing underrepresented voices in film.
Johnson has already experimented with directing a music video—co-helming Coldplay’s “Cry Cry Cry” in 2020—and made her narrative short debut Loser Baby, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Despite critical interest, she expressed frustration that Loser Baby—involving queer friendships and identity in Los Angeles—did not secure a television adaptation, lamenting that it addresses “such a global conversation”.
The upcoming feature will be produced under the TeaTime Pictures banner, founded by Johnson and Ro Donnelly in 2020 to develop films and television projects that amplify distinctive voices. TeaTime’s slate includes her own performances and other passion projects, positioning Johnson as both creative and executive driving force.
Johnson’s choice to elevate an autistic writer-director and focus on neurodiversity comes amid Hollywood’s broader reckoning with representation behind the camera. Recent studies show a surge in projects led by women and filmmakers from diverse backgrounds at major festivals, though women still direct fewer than 20 percent of studio features annually.
At Cannes, Johnson is promoting Splitsville, a dark comedy directed by Michael Angelo Covino that she produced and co-stars in alongside Adria Arjona and Kyle Marvin. The film debuted in the Cannes Premiere section on May 19, 2025, and is set for U.S. release by Neon in August.
While no release date has been disclosed for Johnson’s directorial feature, development is already underway. Given her track record of rapid project movement—from development announcements to festival premieres within months—industry insiders anticipate the film could enter production as early as late 2025