At a Cannes where some have grumbled about a paucity of studio movies (and thus stars), the absence of Scarlett Johansson at last night’s premiere of Paper Tiger was notable. During the movie’s rousing 10-minute standing ovation director James Gray tried to make a call to the actress, according to reports and social media videos. The call wouldn’t connect or he couldn’t get through.

At least one report had the actress missing the premiere because she was filming Universal’s radical redo of The Exorcist, her involvement in which was first reported by Deadline.

Today at a press conference, Gray took a moment to read a letter from Johansson. The actress didn’t offer a reason for her absence, but did apologize for it.

Here’s the full statement:

Working with James and this extraordinary cast was one of the great pleasures of my career. I feel so fortunate to have been part of a story so deeply rooted in what matters most: human connection, identity and the way our values evolve across generations. I’m sorry I can’t be there with you today. James, I know you are reading this right now and this part will make you genuinely queasy. My apologies. But I want you to know how much it means to me to have been part of something that you created with such care and intention that came from the depths of your artistic soul. The consideration and sensitivity towards the human condition in this film is so evident on screen, every frame of it, and I am so extraordinarily proud to have been part of it. To everyone watching and writing about this film, thank you for sitting with our story. Cinema has this rare and remarkable power to connect us to one another through a shared experience. It happens in the dark, where we can’t see each other’s faces, and yet somehow we can feel each other’s presence, each other’s empathy. That collective empathy is something we could certainly use more of right now.

Director Mike Flanagan’s version of The Exorcist has been billed as an all-new story and not connected to the world of the franchise. Johansson’s schedule was an element that had to be massaged when she took on project late last year.

Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great world premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.