Scarlett Johansson has reunited with British director Jonathan Glazer, known for their collaboration on the 2013 science fiction film ‘Under the Skin.’ This time, they’ve come together to promote the Galleria bag collection by the renowned Italian fashion house Prada.
In the advertisement, directed by Glazer, Johansson is seen attempting to recite lines from Shakespeare’s works, specifically from ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ and ‘Macbeth.’ The setting for the ad is New York, and it features creative direction from Ferdinando Verderi, the creative director of Vogue Italia.
Interestingly, this advertisement marks Glazer’s return to the director’s chair after his controversial acceptance speech at this year’s Oscar ceremony. His speech, which was misinterpreted by some, led to trolling from various Hollywood personalities. However, despite the backlash, Glazer secured an Oscar for Best International Film at the 2024 Academy Awards for his movie ‘The Zone of Interest.’
In his speech, Glazer, who is Jewish himself, made remarks regarding the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Palestine, expressing sympathy for the situation of Palestinians in Gaza. His comments sparked an open letter of criticism from 1,000 Jewish Hollywood figures, but they also found support from some within the industry.
‘Under the Skin,’ the previous collaboration between Glazer and Johansson, received critical acclaim and earned a place on BBC’s list of the 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century, despite not performing well at the box office. Glazer’s other notable works include the 2000 film ‘Sexy Beast’ and the 2004 movie ‘Birth,’ which starred Nicole Kidman.