While Scarlett Johansson will be making heads turn with her upcoming role in the surefire blockbuster, The Avengers, she’s opting to take the indie rout for her directorial debut. In an adaptation of long-lost Truman Capote novella Summer Crossing, Johansson will go behind the camera to direct from a screenplay written by New York playwright, Tristine Skyler. Summer Crossing follows an 18-year-old girl in post-World War II New York as she breaks free of the shackles of her well-to-do family and discovers her own identity and sexuality. Hit the jump for more on Summer Crossing.
Variety reported on Johansson’s first project as a director. Summer Crossing will be produced by Oscar-winner Barry Spikings (The Deer Hunter) and executive produced by Peter D. Graves (Killer Elite) in association with trustee Alan Schwartz of the Truman Capote Literary Trust .
In addition to The Avengers, Johansson can next be seen with Matt Damon and Thomas Haden Church in We Bought a Zoo, which debuts on December 23rd. Johansson is currently filming the sci-fi drama Under the Skin by director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast) for release in 2012.