Dakota Johnson’s New Film, ‘Am I Ok?’ Inspired by Her Notorious Ellen DeGeneres Show Incident

Dakota Johnson’s latest film has a special tie to a memorable moment from her past talk show appearance.

The trailer for Johnson’s upcoming movie ‘Am I Ok?’ was unveiled by Max on 20th May. Entertainment Weekly highlighted that Johnson’s collaboration with director Tig Notaro stemmed from her notable 2019 exchange on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’, where she playfully challenged host Ellen DeGeneres about an invitation to her birthday party.

Also Read: How Much Did Dakota Johnson Earn From The ‘Madame Web’ Movie?

During her appearance on DeGeneres’ show in November 2019, Johnson mentioned Notaro, 53, performing at her 30th birthday celebration just after the light-hearted banter with DeGeneres regarding the party invite. Johnson expressed her admiration for Notaro as her “favourite comedian” during the segment. This connection led to a friendship between Johnson and Notaro, ultimately resulting in Johnson securing the lead role in ‘Am I Ok?’

Moreover, screenwriter Lauren Pomerantz, who penned ‘Am I Ok?’, was a writer for ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ at the time of Johnson’s viral moment. Drawing from her own experiences of coming out as gay in her 30s, Pomerantz crafted the screenplay for the film.

‘Am I Ok?’ follows the story of best friends Lucy and Jane, whose relationship is tested when Jane announces her move to London, prompting Lucy to reveal a long-held secret. Johnson’s portrayal of Lucy received praise from Pomerantz, who commended her for capturing the character’s complexity and inner turmoil.

The movie also features Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Sean Hayes, and Notaro, who co-directed the film alongside her wife Stephanie Allynne. Having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, ‘Am I Ok?’ is set to debut on Max on 6th June.

– Farheen Ali