Paper Tiger: the new James Gray finally reveals a first image before Cannes 2026
Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller face the Russian mafia of New York in the 1980s. Competing for the Palme d’Or.
Until now we had not seen Paper Tiger only photos stolen from the shoot, which took place last summer in New Jersey. A few days before its presentation at the Cannes Film Festival (Saturday May 16), its distributors (SND in France, Neon in the United States) have finally unveiled a first official image of the film, featuring Adam Driver and Miles Teller, who play two brothers, alongside Scarlett Johansson.
The official synopsis also details a vintage mafia intrigue, confirming the return of James Gray from Little Odessa And The Yardshis first two feature films, exploring family and crime stories in working-class New York where the filmmaker of Russian Jewish origin grew up.
Synopsis: New York, Queens, 1986. Two brothers who are complete opposites unite for a dubious affair linked to the Russian mafia. But what should have been an opportunity becomes a nightmare, endangering their family, their integrity, and their brotherly bond.
“We saw the James Gray film, which is a wonderful film – a very James Gray, very indie film. It’s the James Gray of Little Odessa, the one who never stopped being himself“, declared Thierry Frémaux, the general delegate of the Cannes Festival, when the presence of the film in competition was still uncertain.
James Gray also wrote the screenplay for Paper Tiger. He entrusted photography to Joaquín Baca-Asay, who had worked on The night belongs to us And Two Lovershis last two film credits.
Finally, the Cannes Film Festival program revealed the duration of the film (1h55), which does not yet have a release date.
