Washington, DC [US], June 13— Actress Dakota Johnson is calling out Hollywood’s creativity crisis. In a candid new interview on Hot Ones, the Materialists star described the current state of the film industry as “a bit of a mess,” criticizing studios for constantly remaking content instead of taking risks on original stories.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson responded to host Sean Evans’ question about why Hollywood has become so risk-averse, saying,
“It’s hard when creative decisions are made by committee… by people who don’t even really watch movies or know anything about them.”
She further slammed the industry’s repetitive tendencies, noting,
“When something does well, studios want to keep that going. So they remake the same things. But humans don’t want that. They want to feel new things, see new things…”
New Beginnings Onscreen and Off
While Dakota is staying quiet about her reported breakup with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin after eight years together, she’s channeling her energy into her newest project, Materialists — a romantic comedy directed by Past Lives filmmaker Celine Song, set for release on June 13, 2025.
The film follows Johnson as a Manhattan matchmaker torn between her perfect new partner and a flawed ex. The ensemble cast includes Zoe Winters, Marin Ireland, Dasha Nekrasova, and Louisa Jacobson.
“I was obsessed with Celine after watching Past Lives,” Johnson said of the Oscar-nominated director. “Working with her has been incredible.”
What’s Next for Dakota Johnson?
Despite the critical failure of Madame Web, Johnson remains busy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she’s now set to star alongside Chris Evans (Avengers) and Pedro Pascal (Gladiator II) in an upcoming project.
Meanwhile, director Celine Song is only gaining momentum. Reflecting on her journey from the stage to the screen, she shared:
“I didn’t know I knew how to make a movie until I was doing it. And then I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to do this until I die.'”
Hollywood at a Crossroads?
With actors like Dakota Johnson speaking out, the conversation around Hollywood’s creative stagnation is gaining steam. As audiences continue to crave fresh stories, Materialists could mark a turning point — both for Johnson and for the future of original cinema.