The Dark Knight Rises actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has taken the time to create his own independent film, by writing, directing and starring in the movie Don Jon, which was formerly titled Don Jon's Addiction. Now, Joseph has been talking about the experience, admitting that he penned the female lead, with Scarlett Johansson in mind for the role.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed and stars in Don Jon
Gordon-Levitt told AE, "Yes. I had Scarlett (Johansson) in mind the entire time – from the very beginning of writing that character. I don’t know what I would have done if she didn’t like the script. I’m really fortunate that she did. I didn’t know her personally, I was just a fan of her work. I think she’s a really great actress."
He added, "I went to Albuquerque where she was shooting The Avengers. I was able to arrange a meeting with her and told her about the movie and gave her the script. I think she was really interested in what the movie’s about. This is a movie about how we objectify each other, especially women – and she is a woman who is objectified a lot."
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson on Don Jon set
Joseph continued, "She’s a really smart person. She’s a really great artist and yet so much of what people talk about when it comes to her is just her surface looks. There’s so much more to talk about than that. I think she was really interested in making fun our culture that does that. That reduces a person like that to just a sex object. She got on board and yes, I’m really glad she did. I feel lucky."
As well as starring both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson, Don Jon also stars Julianne Moore, Brie Larson and Tony Danza. Don Jon has been doing the festival scene this year and it has already been picked up and is expected to be officially released sometime later this year.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks Don Jon
