Scarlett Johansson will direct her first film, an adaptation of Truman Capote's novel Summer Crossing.

Johansson has been in talks to direct the picture since late 2011, but it was announced on Wednesday at Cannes that it had officially received a distribution deal.

Capote's first novel, Summer Crossing tells the story of a young socialite named Grady who embarks on a dangerous new romance.

Back in 1945, Capote threw the story in the trash, but his apartment janitor kept it.  It became public at a 2004 auction and Johansson began working with the Capote estate ever since.  The actress said:

"Several years ago I began working alongside the Capote estate and writer Tristine Skylar to adapt Summer Crossing, an inspired early work of Truman's which has long captured my heart."

She went on to describe the importance of adapting the story: "Being able to bring this story to the screen as my full-length directorial debut is a life dream and deep privilege."

Johansson is one of many actors and actresses who have tried their hand behind the camera.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ryan Gosling are making their directorial debuts this year with Don Jon (which Johansson will star in) and How to Catch a Monster respectively. 

The actress has received acclaim for her acting in the past, winning a BAFTA Award for her role in Lost in Translation and winning a Tony for the play A View from the Bridge.  She also added her vocals to this year's Oscar-nominated song "Before My Time".

Last year she starred as Black Widow in the billion-dollar box office success The Avengers.  She also played actress Janet Leigh in Hitchcock.

In addition to her role in Don Jon, she will star in the film Under the Skin and reprise her role as Black Widow in next year's Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Tags: Scarlett Johansson Director Summer Crossing