Johnny Depp will be behind the camera as a director for the first time in twenty-five years.
“Modigliani,” a biographical drama on Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, will mark the actor’s comeback to acting in front of the camera. In addition to Barry Navidi, Al Pacino is producing the movie. The movie’s financial support comes from IN.2, the production company’s European division.
The tale of the Italian-born painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani is told in “Modigliani,” which is set in 1916 Paris and was adapted for the film by Jerzy and Mary Kromolowski from Dennis McIntyre’s play of the same name. The film’s press kit states that Modigliani, who “had long been considered by himself to be a critical and commercial failure,” “navigates a chaotic and exciting 48 hours that will prove a turning point in his life, finally confirming his position as an artistic legend.” Due to the story’s portrayal of hardship and victory, Depp said the audience might relate to it.
After his widely reported defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp is making one last attempt to revive his career with the film. The jury determined that Heard slandered Depp in her opinion piece from the Washington Post in 2018, in which she referenced having experienced domestic abuse. However, while defending himself from Heard’s accusations, the jury also discovered that Depp had slandered Heard through his lawyer.
Read Also: Amber Heard still has feelings for Johnny Depp
Depp has found work with European production companies despite the fact that Hollywood has shunned him. Additionally, in the upcoming historical romance movie “Jeanne du Barry” by French director Mawenn about a royal concubine, he plays the contentious King Louis XV.
Johnny Depp first movie since 2020
The 2020 independent film “Minamata,” in which Depp portrayed war photographer W. Eugene Smith, marked his last significant acting assignment before “Jeanne du Barry.” After Depp lost his libel action against the British tabloid The Sun, which had called Depp a “wife beater,” Warner Bros. forced him to leave the “Harry Potter” spinoff series “Fantastic Beasts” in the same year. In “Fantastic Beast: The Secrets of Dumbledore” from 2022, Madds Mikkelson took up Depp’s role as evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
Johnny Depp, who is best remembered for his roles in “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Sweeney Todd,” debuted as a filmmaker in 1997 with “The Brave,” a film in which he co-starred with Marlon Brando. In its review, Variety called the neo-Western “turgid and ridiculous,” and the movie was widely mocked both critically and commercially. Although he hasn’t directed a movie since then, he has produced (or executive produced) a number of films, including “Hugo,” “The Lone Ranger,” and “Minimata.”
Additionally, it represents Pacino and Navidi’s fourth feature together; they previously collaborated on “The Merchant of Venice,” “Wilde Salomé,” and “Salomé” in 2004; 2011; and 2013, respectively.
