Dakota Johnson is preparing to direct her first feature film titled A Tree Is Blue, marking her official transition behind the camera. The project, based on a screenplay by Vanessa Burghardt, Johnson’s co-star from Cha Cha Real Smooth, is set to include performances by Jessica Alba and Charli XCX. This marks a significant step for Johnson as she leads a film team both creatively and artistically for the first time.
Background on Johnson’s Filmmaking Experience
Although Johnson’s primary recognition comes from acting, she has directed before, notably the short film Loser Baby released last year. Beyond directing, she has engaged in several executive producer and producer roles on projects such as The Disappearance of Shere Hite, Splitsville, and the upcoming adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel Verity, in which she will also star. Johnson’s expanding presence behind the scenes highlights a desire to shape creative decisions more directly in her career.
Creative Frustrations Behind the Camera
Johnson openly expressed her frustrations with traditional filmmaking structures during a recent interview on Hot Ones, emphasizing the challenges of working in environments where creative decisions are made by committees detached from genuine artistic passion. She said,
“It’s hard to be on jobs where you don’t have creative input… It’s hard when creative decisions are made by committee and by people who don’t even really watch movies, or know anything about them,”
Dakota Johnson said.
“When something does well, studios want to keep that going, so they remake the same things. But humans don’t want that. They want fresh. They want to feel new things.”
Johnson’s comments reveal a tension between commercial expectations and the desire for artistic innovation.
Charli XCX’s Role and Upcoming Acting Projects
Charli XCX, who is joining the cast of A Tree Is Blue, is also actively growing her acting resume. She will soon appear in Cathy Yan’s The Gallerist and star in The Moment, an Aidan Zamiri film based on her original story. Scheduled for release in 2026, The Moment features a range of talent including Jamie Demetriou, Kate Berlant, Shygirl, Isaac Powell, and Rish Shah, with A.G. Cook contributing both on-screen and as the music director.
Additionally, Charli will be part of Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex and Daniel Goldhaber’s adaptation of Faces of Death. Reflecting on her evolving acting career, Charli said,
“I am really enjoying my acting journey,”
Charli told Variety earlier this year.
“I feel very, very inspired at the moment in that field, I feel unbelievably creative, and I only ever want to do things that inspire me and make me feel energized.”
Implications and Future Prospects
Dakota Johnson’s move into directing with A Tree Is Blue signals a deeper commitment to creative control, potentially influencing how actors step into filmmaking roles. Partnering with Vanessa Burghardt and casting diverse talents like Charli XCX and Jessica Alba reflects an effort to bring fresh voices and perspectives to the screen. As Johnson balances producing, directing, and acting, her evolving role may inspire new storytelling approaches in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Charli XCX’s expanding acting career complements this trend of artists exploring multifaceted creative outlets, promising more innovative projects ahead.
