Their Asteroid City co-star Tom Hanks has been caught up in controversy after appearing to ‘scold’ a worker at Cannes Film Festival.

So it’s possible Scarlett Johansson, 38, and Bryan Cranston, 67, were reading up on the news as they were glued to a mobile during a photocall for their new movie.

The duo seemed in good spirits if not slightly distracted as they posed for snaps on Wednesday alongside fellow stars like Maya Hawke and Steve Carell.

Yet noticeably missing from the line-up was Tom, 66, who did not attend because he had another engagement back in the States that he needed to attend.

He flew back to the US shortly after he was pictured looked uncharacteristically frustrated as he jabbed a finger at a man during their film’s premiere the night before.

Tom’s actress and producer wife Rita Wilson, who also stars in the film, could be seen holding her hand up in front of her as she spoke to the unnamed man.

However, Rita has now set the record straight on what really happened, taking to Instagram hours later to clear the air about the ‘altercation’.

Sharing a picture of the moment, Rita wrote: ‘This is called “I can’t hear you. People are screaming. What did you say? Where are we supposed to go?” ‘We had a great time. Go see Asteroid City!’

Tom has not commented on the incident and missed the chance to make a statement at the film’s photocall due to a prior engagement that he had been scheduled to attend.

For the photocall, Scarlett opted for a quirky striped dress with a fishtail hem that flashed a glimpse of her toned pins.

A pair of quirky platform heels gave her frame a boost while she accessorised with gold hooped earrings and $517 Prada sunglasses.

Also looking stylish was Maya Hawke who donned a quirky flared denim jumpsuit adorned with large gold buttons.

Asteroid City, which is a coming-of-age movie about stargazing in the desert, is directed by quirky filmmaker Wes Anderson.