After news broke that Amber Heard had been offered a role in a pornographic film, it’s been revealed that Johnny Depp is set to make his return to directing after a twenty-five-year break. The actor will be taking the reins for Modigliani, a biographical drama about Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. The film is being produced by Barry Navidi and Al Pacino, with support from IN.2, the production company’s European division. Modigliani is based on a play by Dennis McIntyre and follows the story of the artist’s life in 1916 Paris. Despite his own doubts, Modigliani navigates a dramatic and chaotic two days that will be a pivotal moment in his career and cement his place as an artistic legend.
In a relaxed tone, Depp expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity to bring Mr. Modigliani’s life story to the big screen. He acknowledged that the artist had faced numerous challenges but ultimately triumphed, making it a universally relatable story. This film represents Depp’s latest endeavor to revive his career following his highly publicized defamation suit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The suit ruled in Depp’s favor after the jury found that Heard had made slanderous accusations of domestic abuse against him in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. However, the jury also uncovered that Depp had disparaged Heard through his lawyer during the trial.
Despite being shunned by Hollywood, Johnny Depp has managed to secure work with European production companies. He is set to star as King Louis XV in the upcoming historical romance drama Jeanne du Barry directed by French filmmaker Mawenn. This project comes after his performance as war photographer W. Eugene Smith in the 2020 independent film Minamata. However, Depp’s career took a hit after losing his libel case against The Sun, which had labeled him a “wife beater.” As a result, Warner Bros. asked him to step down from his role as Gellert Grindelwald in the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, which was then taken over by Madds Mikkelson.
Although Depp’s directorial debut in The Brave received negative reviews, he has since produced or executive produced films such as Hugo, The Lone Ranger, and Minamata. Additionally, his upcoming project with Pacino and Navidi will mark their fourth collaboration, having previously worked together on The Merchant of Venice, Wilde Salomé, and Salomé.
