Paper Tiger: Anne Hathaway And Succession Star Jeremy Strong Were Initially Set To Lead The Project

Paper Tiger Synopsis:

Set in 1986 Queens, Irwin Pearl (Miles Teller), a hard-working family man whose pursuit of the American Dream is upended when his charismatic older brother, Gary (Adam Driver), entangles them in a lucrative venture tied to the Russian mob. As extortion and violent threats loom over Irwin's wife Hester (Scarlett Johansson) and their children, desperate survival choices spark deep paranoia, fracturing the brothers' bond in a tragic story of betrayal.

Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime

Release Date: In theaters November 20th, 2026

Paper Tiger Fun Facts: Anne Hathaway And Succession Star Jeremy Strong Were Initially Set To Lead The Project

The Marriage Story Reunion:
Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are reuniting on screen for the first time since their Oscar-nominated roles as a fracturing couple in 2019’s Marriage Story. In the 1980s crime thriller Paper Tiger, directed by James Gray, Driver and Johansson drop the husband-and-wife routine for a completely different dynamic. Joining forces with Miles Teller, the cast dives into a story centered on a family venture that gets unexpectedly wrapped up with the Russian mob. It shifts both stars away from relationship drama and into a suspenseful story about family loyalty, crime, and survival.

A Complete Recasting Before Filming:
Anne Hathaway and Succession star Jeremy Strong were initially set to lead the project right alongside Adam Driver in Paper Tiger. Due to major scheduling conflicts, both Hathaway and Strong were forced to drop out in early 2025. Their sudden departure led the filmmakers to reshape the casting, bringing in Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller to take over the open roles, completely changing the dynamic of the upcoming crime thriller.

Cannes Standing Ovation:
Paper Tiger made a massive splash on the international stage when it officially debuted at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in May. Selected to compete for the Palme d'Or, the festival's highest honor, the movie captivated the audience inside the theater. As the credits rolled, the crowd erupted into an overwhelming 10-minute standing ovation. Long applause at Cannes is the ultimate sign of respect from world-class filmmakers and critics, signaling that the movie is already generating major award-season buzz.

Gray and Baca-Asay Third Collaboration:
For the movie Paper Tiger, director James Gray once again teamed up with his longtime cinematographer, Joaquin Baca-Asay. To capture the story's visual style, Baca-Asay chose to shoot on traditional 35mm film stock rather than using modern digital cameras. This project marks the third time the artistic duo has worked together to bring a film to life. Their creative partnership previously yielded the gritty crime drama We Own the Night (2007) and the romantic drama Two Lovers (2008).

Shot on Location in New Jersey:
Even though the story is set in 1980s Queens, New York, the movie wasn't actually filmed there. Instead, the production crew shot the entire film on location in New Jersey, primarily using the town of Denville and several neighboring communities to recreate the look and feel of 1980s New York.

Staggered Release Strategy:
Independent movie distributor NEON is using a strategic release strategy to bring the film Paper Tiger to North American audiences. Instead of releasing the movie into theaters everywhere at once, they are starting with a limited debut in select cities on November 13, 2026. One week later, on November 20, they will expand the film into a nationwide release in theaters across the country.

Source: youtube, wikipedia