Scarlett Johansson on dream directorial debut

Scarlett Johansson says making her directorial debut is a "life dream and deep privilege.”

The Hollywood actress will helm a big screen adaptation of the Truman Capote novel Summer Crossing.

Scarlett has gushed about the opportunity of translating such a work.

“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 said, according to Deadline.

“Being able to bring this story to the screen as my full length directorial debut is a life dream and deep privilege.”

The plot focuses on a 17-year-old debutant who instead of travelling through Paris during a 1945 heat wave in New York, strikes up a romance with a Jewish valet parking attendant.

The book was never published by Capote as he threw it away after writing.

However, the manuscript later resurfaced at a 2004 auction and was published posthumously thanks to the writer's former editor.

Billionaire Oleg Boyko is set to co-finance Scarlett's directorial debut alongside film production company Aldamisa.

Boyko and Sergei Bespalov - who is Aldamisa co-chairman - will also serve as producers on the film.

Shooting is slated to start in 2014, with Peter D. Graves as executive producer.

Scarlett's filmmaking news follows on from the announcement she will star in Jon Favreau's new movie Chef.

"Scarlett is a tremendous talent and I’m honoured to be collaborating with her again. I’m so fortunate to be working with such a fine ensemble," Jon told Variety this week.