For months, the rumors were out there—a hushed, speculative hum on the festival circuit and in industry trades. Dakota Johnson wasn’t just acting anymore. She was shifting, flexing that creative muscle she’s been building beneath her TeaTime banner. It’s the classic A-lister pivot: from muse to master, from taking direction to calling the shots. We’ve seen it a thousand times, and honestly, the results are always a toss-up, right? For every Greta Gerwig, there are ten vanity projects that sink without a trace.
But this one… this one feels different. It’s got a pulse that suggests serious intent. The project is called ‘A Tree Is Blue,’ and according to a recent casting call, Johnson is set to make her feature directorial debut next month in Los Angeles.
This isn’t just another vehicle. It’s a coming-of-age story that centers on a young woman on the autism spectrum breaking free from a loving but overprotective mother after high school. That subject matter alone—the quest for freedom, friendship, and a little chaos—is the kind of emotional TNT that can either explode into genuine, moving cinema or fizzle into something saccharine. The stakes are instantly high.
The Intent and the Cast: Signals of Seriousness
What truly elevates this announcement above the usual celebrity-directs-indie-drama chatter are the names attached and the evident why. It’s a script penned by Vanessa Burghardt, who also starred as Johnson’s daughter in the terrific Cha Cha Real Smooth. Burghardt is autistic, and the source material explicitly states the project is about a woman on the autism spectrum.
This is the key. Johnson has been admirably outspoken lately about wanting to create space for more authentic stories in Hollywood—and crucially, ones told with the people whose experiences are being portrayed. The fact that she’s fast-tracking a script penned by an autistic writer/actress signals serious directorial intention, not just an urge to check a box. It’s a commitment to lived experience. The best cinema, especially the kind that grips us and makes us see the world differently, is rarely a detached observation. It’s an embrace.
Then there is the cast she’s assembling. It’s a fascinating, unexpected alchemy. The ensemble reportedly includes Jessica Alba, Vanessa Burghardt, and, most intriguingly, the Grammy award-winning singer Charli XCX. Charli XCX, mind you, has been on an absolute tear in the indie film space, shooting seven films in the last two years, though none of those titles—The Moment, 100 Nights of Hero, Erupcja, Faces of Death, I Want Your Sex, Sacrifice, and The Gallerist—have hit theaters yet. She is clearly shifting her focus, and having Dakota Johnson Directing ‘A Tree Is Blue’ could be the high-profile feature that truly launches her into the acting spotlight. It’s a sharp, risk-taking piece of casting.
A New Voice in Genre Cinema?
Now, as a critic who lives and breathes the dark corners of the cinematic universe—horror, sci-fi, the comic-book sublime—I’m always looking for a director’s first move to hint at their deeper sensibilities. And honestly, I’m wondering if Johnson has the stuff. Does she have the visual language, the rhythmic control, the sheer authorial will to be a great filmmaker? The drama she’s chosen is miles away from the genre beats I usually track, but the thematic core is pure cult cinema: the outsider seeking chaotic freedom.
Think of the existential drift in early Richard Linklater films, the raw, unfiltered search for self in Kids, or even the terrifying liberation sought by Carrie White in the Brian De Palma masterpiece. The search for belonging, for breaking the ties that bind, is the motor of so much powerful genre work. ‘A Tree Is Blue’ taps into that primal human need, even if it’s wrapped in the gentle guise of a coming-of-age drama. That’s the kind of layered insight I look for, and the fact that Johnson describes the project as “very close to her heart” suggests a deeply felt connection that might translate into that necessary fire behind the lens.
We often forget the sheer difficulty of crafting a genuine emotional connection on screen. It’s easy to get lost in the technicality. It’s easy to fall back on sentiment. But if Johnson can handle this sensitive material with the nuance it deserves, she will have proved she’s not just an actress dabbling—she’s a filmmaker stepping into the light. The fact it’s being fast-tracked for filming next month suggests she’s ready to make it. Now.
The Early Buzz: What We Know
As of today, October 12, 2025, there are no confirmed release dates, festival premieres, or market screenings for ‘A Tree Is Blue’. Given the filming is set for next month, we can likely expect a festival debut sometime in late 2026 or early 2027, perhaps aiming for the Sundance or Cannes circuit, where the film’s indie heart and high-profile director could generate maximum buzz.
Johnson’s move is part of a broader trend of actors using their influence and production houses (like TeaTime) to force challenging, often overlooked narratives into the mainstream—a good thing for Hollywood, frankly, which needs more stories about people who aren’t just cis, straight, and white. This is about taking the reins, not just waiting for the phone to ring. And that, in my book, is the stuff of a genuine artist.
‘A Tree Is Blue’ Signals: What You Should Know
- A Writer’s Heart: The film is written by Vanessa Burghardt, who also stars, grounding the coming-of-age story in an authentic, personal point of view regarding the experiences of a young autistic woman.
- The Auteur Ambition: This project marks Dakota Johnson Directing ‘A Tree Is Blue,’ a move she has been hinting at for months, suggesting a full commitment to the role of a feature filmmaker.
- Charli XCX’s Shift: The casting of the acclaimed singer points to a serious pivot in her career toward acting, with this potentially being her breakthrough role in a high-profile, emotionally textured drama.
- Genre Beneath the Surface: While a drama, the core theme of an outsider’s chaotic quest for independence and self-discovery touches on universal, often genre-fueling, existential anxieties.
- Fast-Tracked Production: The project is reportedly filming next month in Los Angeles, indicating a rapid, focused path to production under Johnson’s own TeaTime banner.
❓ Critical Q&A on Dakota Johnson’s Directorial Debut
Is Dakota Johnson Directing ‘A Tree Is Blue’ purely a vanity project?
No. The core evidence—a script written by co-star Vanessa Burghardt (who is on the autism spectrum) and Johnson’s stated commitment to authentic storytelling—suggests the project is motivated by creative advocacy, not just a desire for a directorial credit.
What kind of film can we expect from the Charli XCX casting?
The addition of the Grammy-winner suggests a tone that is likely to be contemporary, emotionally raw, and perhaps even lyrical in its portrayal of youth, as Charli XCX’s recent artistic choices often embody a mix of glamour and emotional vulnerability.
Will the film be too sentimental given the subject matter?
That is the risk. The balance between portraying a character’s fight for freedom and falling into sentimental traps will be the first major test of Johnson’s skill as a filmmaker. If the film leans into the “little chaos” promised in the description, it should avoid feeling too safe.
