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Johnny Depp discussed why he avoided a significant movie role at the time. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Johnny Depp almost talked himself out of his latest role, and yeah, it’s as wild as it sounds. At the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, Depp straight up told the crowd he tried to convince the director, Maïwenn, Not to cast him. He couldn’t wrap his head around playing King Louis Xv. Imagine that: Johnny Depp, a guy who’s played a pirate, a mad hatter, and more iconic roles than we can count, questioning if he was cut out for playing a French monarch.

At the UK premiere at Curzon Mayfair in London, Depp gave the audience some real talk. He admitted that when Maïwenn first approached him for the role, he couldn’t stop thinking, “Am I the guy to play the King of France?” He shared how his mind...

Johnny Depp’s first attempt at making a Hollywood comeback came in the form of the mid-French language movie, ‘Jeanne Du Barry.’ And though ‘Modi: Three Days On the Wings of Madness’ isn’t likely to be the big one, it’s already receiving better acclaim than Maïwenn’s ‘Jeanne Du Barry.’

‘Modi’ is just his second directorial project and his first in nearly three decades. For the movie, Depp, 61, worked with longtime friend Al Pacino, 84, Riccardo Scamarcio, 44, Antonia Desplat and Stephen Graham.

Depp and Pacino have imagined and discussed the concept for many years, but just recently brought it to life for the enjoyment of many.

Riccardo Scamarcio’s Modigliani Faces Different Challenges On His Way To Becoming A True Artist

The new trailer for the In.2 Film has just dropped, showing us glimpses into the upcoming movie. I’ve got one thing to say and it is that...

Johnny Depp’s plane was late coming into Rome, so he missed the Rome Film Festival press conference that was scheduled on Saturday to talk about the new film he directed, Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness. Depp was due to present the film that evening, pick up a prize and then fly out on Sunday morning.

The actor is considered a controversial figure in Hollywood after years of legal battles and a messy divorce from his ex-wife Amber Heard, which included allegations of domestic violence and his and Heard’s heavily publicized defamation trial. But Depp is in the midst of a career reboot of sorts in Europe, one that began at last year’s Cannes Film Fest with French director Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, in which he starred as King Louis Xv.

Modi, which premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival last month, is the...

James Franco had a diverse portfolio of roles and was a part of some of the most highly acclaimed projects in the industry. However, a controversy that stirred up the entire movie industry led to the actor being blacklisted. But while Franco was shunned in Hollywood, like many other actors, he is all set to make a comeback through European cinema.

James Franco in Homefront | Credits: Open Road Films

The actor followed the likes of Hollywood A-listers like Kevin Spacey and Johnny Depp, who faced major backlash when their respective controversies came out in the open. In a recent interview, Franco talked more about the new movie and his role.

James Franco All Set to Make a Comeback With Hey Joe

In recent years, James Franco has been the talk of the town, but mostly for all the wrong reasons. The actor was recently spotted in Rome for the launch...

With Amber Heard behind him – and even having retreated to Spain for some time – Johnny Depp is looking to move on. As such, after that much-publicized and -mocked trial between the two, Depp has been pushing through with his career. While his projects may not exactly harken back to the days of Captain Jack Sparrow, he has committed to doing things his own way, something that isn’t exactly out of the ordinary for him. But as he gears up for press for Modì, he couldn’t help but take a dig at the circus that surrounded his scandalous trial.

Appearing at the San Sebastian Film Festival – where Modì (officially titled Modì – Three Days of the Wing of Madness is premiering – Johnny Depp worked in a reference to his issues with ex-wife Amber Heard, saying, “Each [character] has their story because I’m sure we can say that I’ve been...

During a San Sebastian press conference for his latest directorial outing, “Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness,” Johnny Depp reflected on the nearly three decades since his last feature outing, 1997’s much-maligned “The Brave.”

Asked to compare his own experiences with those of his film’s protagonist — the bohemian artist Amedeo Modigliani — Depp said both of them have had to earn their stripes.

“Sure, we can say that I’ve been through a number of things here and there, but I’m alright,” he said.

Depp then seemed to allude to his recent legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, saying, “I think we’ve all been through a number of things, ultimately… Maybe yours didn’t turn into a soap opera, televised in fact, but we all experience and go through what we go through.”

“Modi” unspools over 72 frantic hours in the life of bohemian artist Amedeo Modigliani...

Johnny Depp is returning to Italy. After the last show with his band, Hollywood Vampires (featuring Alice Cooper and Joe Perry from Aerosmith) in 2018 at the Lucca Summer Festival, the actor/musician/filmmaker will be feted with a lifetime achievement honor at the 2024 Rome Film Fest, which runs Oct. 16-27.

Depp will also debut his latest directorial project at the fest: Modi – Three Days on the Wing of Madness, which chronicles the turbulent life of artist Amedeo Modigliani in 1916 Paris. Starring s the film will screen in Rome following its world premiere at the San Sebastián Film Festival.

The Rome honor comes as Depp attempts to put his legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard behind him. While his Hollywood career has yet to fully recover from the negative publicity that surrounded the divorce, he remains popular internationally and continues to be embraced by the film community in Europe. In...

Johnny Depp will be honored with a career award at the Rome Film Festival, where “Modi – Three Days on the Wing of Madness” – his film about 72 hours in the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani — will launch in Italy following its bow at San Sebastian.

“Modi,” which stars Italy’s Riccardo Scamarcio as the bad boy painter and sculptor who became famous for the groundbreaking modern style of his portraits and nudes, will play in Rome’s non-competitive Grand Public section before being released in Italy by new production/distribution player Be Water in tandem with Maestro Distribution and Medusa Film.

Besides Scamarcio, the film’s stellar cast also comprises Al Pacino as international art collector Maurice Gangnat, Antonia Desplat, Stephen Graham (“The Irishman”), Bruno Gouery (“The White Lotus”), Ryan McParland (“Halo”) and Sally Phillips (“Bridget Jones” trilogy).

“Modi” takes place in Paris during World War I, over the...

Johnny Depp’s second directorial effort, “Modi — Three Days on the Wings of Madness,” will make its debut at the San Sebastian Film Festival next month.

The film, which stars Riccardo Scamarcio as famed Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, is set to premiere in the festival’s out of competition strand. According to its synopsis, “Modi” is “a tale of art, love and rejection” that “follows a 72-hour whirlwind of chaotic events through the streets and bars of a Paris torn apart during World War I.” It also stars Stephen Graham, Al Pacino and Antonia Desplat.

Riccardo Scamarcio in “Modi”

“Modi” marks Depp’s return to directing after his 1997 debut with the critically panned “The Brave.” It is also one of the actor’s first projects since his 2022 court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, in which he sued her for defamation after she accused him of domestic abuse. Depp ultimately won the case,...

In recent years, Johnny Depp has gotten all the wrong kinds of attention in Hollywood. While many knew him for his excellent acting, the world shifted their focus to his personal life during his trial with Amber Heard. However, after his triumph in the public altercation with his ex-wife, he went straight back to his craft and starred in Jeanne du Barry.

Johnny Depp as King Louis Xv in a still from Jeanne du Barry I Le Pacte

Recently, the director of the film, Maïwenn, talked about what it was like to work with him. It would seem that the process wasn’t as smooth as many would think, and the reason isn’t as bad as many would think.

Johnny Depp Wasn’t Easy To Work With

Recently, the director of Jeanne du Barry, Maïwenn, gave an interview with The Independent, where she talked about what it was like...

French prosecutors have requested director Benoît Jacquot be charged with the rape and sexual assault of several actresses, according to a Le Monde report.

Jacquot, 77, was held for questioning on Monday after filmmaker/actress Judith Godrèche filed a complaint alleging Jacquot raped her during a relationship that began when she was 14. The relationship lasted several years, Godrèche, now 52, said. Godrèche first went public with her allegations in an investigation Le Monde published in February 2024.

Le Besco, now 41, followed Godrèche’s complaint with one of her own, alleging Jacquot raped her during a relationship also began when she was a minor. Julia Roy, now 34, has also accused Jacquot of sexual assault; Jacquot has denied all accusations.

Prosecutors are currently seeking to charge Jacquot with crimes against Le Besco and Roy, but not Godrèche.

In addition to her complaint against Jacquot for “predation” and “violent rape of a minor under 15 years old...

Paris-based sales and production company Totem has boarded “Quasi a Casa,” directed by Carolina Pavone.

The film is produced by Marta Donzelli and Gregorio Paonessa for Vivo Film, and by Palme d’Or winner Nanni Moretti for Sacher Film. Fandango – behind festival favorites “Orlando, My Political Biography” and “The Survival of Kindness” – will handle Italian distribution.

Described as a “pop drama,” it follows Caterina. Now in her 20s, she wants to be a musician, but she’s paralyzed by fear and insecurity. One summer, she meets her idol, the French singer Mia and gets to know her. It’s the beginning of a complex relationship that will accompany Caterina over the years and finally allow her to find home. Almost.

The logline states: “There comes a time in everyone’s life, when we need to start figuring out what our place in the world is.”

Newcomer Maria Chiara Arrighini plays Caterina.

The Cannes Film Festival is arguably the single most prestigious film festival in all of world cinema. Every year, hundreds descend on the French resort town for two weeks of screenings from some of the film industry’s most respected auteurs. If you want high-quality cinema, or movie star glamour, Cannes supplies all of that in abundance.

But maybe it’s because Cannes is such a shiny beacon atop the cinematic landscape that it’s also so frequently embroiled in massive controversies, in a way that American festivals like, say, Sundance don’t really manage, at least not anymore. It’s not an every year occurrence, but whenever Cannes starts up in May, putting money on something happening to make people very angry is generally the safer bet.

Sometimes, the controversy has to do with the films playing on the Croisette themselves. Take notorious projects like “The Brown Bunny,” a...

Illustrations by Maddie Fischer.For more Cannes 2024 coverage, subscribe to the Weekly Edit newsletter.In a welcome twist, the most pressing questions I heard on my way to Cannes this year didn’t concern the festival lineups but events that seemed to transcend them. In the days leading up to the opening night, Sous les écrans la dèche, a collective of festival workers, announced it would be striking over salary increases and unemployment benefits; as I type, the strikes haven’t materialized, nor has the rumored list of new sexual abuse allegations about men in the French film industry. “Last year, as you know, we had some polemics,” artistic director Thierry Frémaux told the press on the eve of the fest, hinting at the decision to open the 2023 edition with Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, a film that would have been forgotten a lot faster than it was had it...

For years, fans couldn’t get enough of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movies. In fact it was so beloved it became one of Disney’s most profitable franchises. Even up to this moment, there are fans that still hold out hope that the ‘Pirates’ will make a return.

No, not as the completely rebooted movie that’s reportedly in development, but with Johnny Depp back as Captain Jack Sparrow, and if they can manage it, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner. What new mayhem will the duo get into for their next adventures?

While we pray for that, Orlando Bloom has decided to make us a little nostalgic by revealing how Johnny Depp crafted the character Jack Sparrow and got him to be so good fans couldn’t help but fall in love.

Orlando Bloom – Says Johnny Depp Enjoyed Playing Captain Jack Sparrow

What’s it like working with Johnny...

Last year, the Cannes Film Festival shrugged off protests by women’s rights groups to open with Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, a period movie starring alleged abuser Johnny Depp as the king of France.

A year and a mini-#MeToo revolution later, Cannes has picked Moi Aussi (Me Too), a short film by French actress turned activist and filmmaker Judith Godrèche to open its Un Certain Regard sidebar.

Best known in the U.S. for the Oscar-nominated Ridicule (1996) and The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), Godrèche became a key figure in France’s #MeToo movement after she accused acclaimed directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. Both men have denied the claims.

The allegations, and Godrèche’s standing as one of France’s best-known actresses and a beloved former child star, helped bring #MeToo back into the spotlight in France. Her...

Vanity Affair: Maïwenn Tarries with Madame du Barry

For her sixth feature film, Maïwenn tackles her first period piece with Jeanne du Barry, resurrecting a historical footnote in the refreshed trend of obsessive royalty porn. Fittingly, a film dealing specifically with a royal scandal created one of its own when Johnny Depp was cast as Louis Xv of France, the actor’s first film in three years following a high profile divorce, sullying his reputation in the court of public opinion. Such flotsam will eventually fade to the background while Maïwenn’s stab at royal fan fiction will more likely be remembered as a rather ho hum, cautiously attenuated escapade completely void of any real emotional authenticity (not to mention the film plays like the nadir of romantic melodrama).…...

After taking a look back at House II: The Second Story (a favorite of mine since childhood), House of 1000 Corpses (which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year), the awesomeness of Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight, the leg smashing in the Stephen King adaptation Misery, three separate moments from John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China, the “Jason vs. Tina” battle in Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, the “all hell breaks loose” sequence from the start of Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake, the opening sequence of Pitch Black, and the “Burn” scene from The Crow, JoBlo’s own Lance Vlcek is continuing his The Best Scene video series with a look at a moment from genre regular Alexandre Aja‘s breakthrough film High Tension (watch it Here). To find out which scene Lance chose as the best, check out the video embedded above!

In the 1990s and 2000s, May (and specifically Memorial Day) typically marked the beginning of Summer Movie Season. Multiplexes nationwide were packed to the emergency exits with big names, big explosions and (presumably) big box office. The film industry has changed since then, obviously, and summer no longer packs the same high-octane punch that it once did. But in this evolution, release schedule space has opened up for a stellar month of Don’t-Miss Indies titles.

Jeanne Du Barry

When You Can Watch: May 3

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Director: Maiwenn

Cast: Maiwenn, Johnny Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvin Poupaud, Pierre Richard

Why We’re Excited: In 18th-century France, Jeanne Vaubernier, a common girl eager to climb the social ladder uses her distinct charms to convince her lover, the Count du Barry (Melvin Poupaud) to introduce her to the King, Louis Xv (Depp). The Count organizes the meeting through the intermediary...

Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry is a work without a unifying thesis. Born Jeanne Bécu in 1743, Louis Xv’s favorite mistress (played as an adult by Maïwenn herself) was a courtesan who was elevated to a countess, and to the scandalized horror of the French court. At first, the film seems primed to deliver a send-up of courtly ritual and hypocritical noble decorum, à la Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. But like the real Countess du Barry, it’s eventually caught up in the very pomp and splendor that it initially lampoons.

It’s in that initial, comical examination of court etiquette that Maïwenn’s film is at its strongest. When Jeanne, a courtesan favored by aristocrats who take her along to court, arrives at Versailles and is offered like livestock to Louis Xv (Johnny Depp), we see through her eyes how the palace has turned every single action into...

"Jeanne du Barry", set in France 1768, is directed by Maïwenn, starring Johnny Depp, Maïwenn, Melvil Poupaud and Pierre Richard, releasing May 2, 2024 in theaters:

“…the film follows the life of ‘Jeanne Bécu’ (Maïwenn), who was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743…

“…and went on to rise through the Court of Louis Xv (Depp)...

"...to become his last official mistress…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

When one of the Kings of big budget movies says big budget movies are nearing the end of their tether, maybe we should listen?

As he prepares to premiere his new French-language movie, “Jeanne Du Barry” in the US on May 2, he’s shared his opinion on big budget movies and whether they’re becoming disposable.

Johnny Depp – Says Big Budget Movies Don’t Provide Something New To Audiences

Is it true? Are we being fed the same plot over and over again but in slightly different ways? Whether you agree or not, Depp thinks it’s a given. He believes that big budget movies are always being approved by studios even though they’re replications of each other.

During his latest chat with Metro UK, the actor said, “By and large, for the majority of the years I’ve been wandering around aimlessly talking to people, they really want the same thing.

When Johnny Depp praised and thanked his Jeanne du Barry director for giving him a chance when nearly no other filmmaker would, it showed genuine appreciation. But then director Maïwenn seemed to betray her star, giving an interview in The Independent that painted Depp as “scary” on the set and Maïwenn as disloyal. Now, Maïwenn is trying to right the wrongs ahead of the film’s North American release next week.

Speaking with Variety, Maïwenn said that her quotes about Johnny Depp had been misrepresented. “When I made a remark about Johnny being ‘scary,’ I was talking about his charisma, his notoriety, his star status, etc… was shocked when I discovered that the newspaper had headlined that ‘The crew were afraid of [Johnny Depp]’ because written like that, and without its context and subtleties, it absolutely no longer means the same thing. The journalist did not want to grasp the subtlety of my words....

Johnny Depp’s legal conflict with his ex Amber Heard has almost derailed his glorious Hollywood career. The actor appeared in French filmmaker Maïwenn’s historical romance drama, Jeanne du Barry, alongside the director who played the title character.

Johnny Depp in Jeanne Du Barry

Earlier this month, in an interview with The Independent, Maïwenn commented on working with Depp in the movie. However, she claimed that the outlet had twisted her words, keeping the actor in a bad light in the headline. Now, she clarified her comment on the Pirates of the Caribbean star.

Maïwenn Clarified her Comments On Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp in Jeanne du Barry

Maïwenn revealed that he was saddened and concerned after her interview was twisted to explicitly reveal a different meaning. It has cast a shadow of negativity on Johnny Depp and his reputation. In a chat with Variety, the director and Depp’s...

Johnny Depp‘s Jeanne du Barry director Maïwenn is clearing the air after one of her comments about the actor got taken out of context.

When speaking to The Independent, she said that “the crew were afraid” of Johnny on set of the project. The quote was highlighted at the top of the feature.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I have to be honest. It’s difficult to shoot with him… all the crew were scared because he has a different kind of humour and we didn’t know if he was going to be on time, or if he was going to be Ok to say his lines… I mean, even if he was there on set, on time, the crew were afraid of him,” she told the outlet.

However, she did not mean that Johnny was scary in the traditional sense.

“When I made a remark about Johnny being ‘scary,...

Maïwenn is holding court when it comes to the viral coverage of working with Johnny Depp on “Jeanne du Barry.”

Maïwenn recently told The Independent that it was “difficult” to work with Depp because the crew was “scared” and “afraid” of the actor in part due to his “different kind of humor and we didn’t know if he was going to be on time, or if he was going to be Ok to say his lines.”

“Jeanne du Barry” marks Depp’s return to the big screen following his highly-publicized court case against ex-wife Amber Heard. However, Depp has shrugged off the label of “Jeanne du Barry” as his comeback film.

Now, actress/director Maïwenn is calling out The Independent for manufacturing “controversy” about her comments regarding Depp, saying that the outlet took her statement to have a “malicious” tone and out of context.

“When I made a remark about Johnny being ‘scary,...

“Jeanne du Barry” director Maïwenn is speaking out against The Independent after her interview with the publication, which posted online earlier this month, was headlined with a quote in which the filmmaker said her crew was “scared” of star Johnny Depp.

“I have to be honest. It’s difficult to shoot with him… all the crew were scared because he has a different kind of humor and we didn’t know if he was going to be on time, or if he was going to be ok to say his lines,” Maïwenn said during The Independent interview. “I mean, even if he was there on set, on time, the crew were afraid of him.”

Maïwenn clarified the comment in a statement to Variety, saying that she was referring to Depp’s “charisma” and “star status” when discussing why he was “scary.” Nothing about Depp’s behavior on set made anyone afraid of him,...

Johnny Depp’s return to the acting world came about because the French producer, director and actor Maïwenn wanted him for the part of King Louis Xv in “Jeanne Du Barry.”

During the London premiere of the show, Depp revealed that he had asked Maïwenn to consider recasting his role to someone else, and now we’re just realizing that Maïwen may have wished she listened to him.

Maïwen On Why the “Jeanne Du Barry” Crew Were Afraid Of Johnny Depp

So what’s it like working with the great Johnny Depp, whose recent fall from the Hollywood A-list has been most riveting to watch? Maïwenn’s here with the answers.

In a new interview with The Independent, Maïwen, who plays the titular character Jeanne Du Barry, opened up about the kind of working conditions Depp set while they were shooting the French-language drama.

Maïwen played a sex worker in 18th century France,...

Despite winning his defamation trailer against his ex-wife Amber Heard following her allegations of domestic violence, actor Johnny Depp is still a persona non-grata in Hollywood, by and large. The actor hasn’t starred in anything significant since he was fired/resigned from the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise in 2020, but that hasn’t really stopped the less-discerning European film market from tapping his talents. One of those helmers less concerned with the controversies involving casting Depp is the French filmmaker Maïwenn, the director, writer, and actress behind the upcoming movie “Jeanne du Barry.” In the period drama, Maïwenn plays a sex worker in 18th-century France who becomes the mistress to King Louis Xv, the role played by Depp.

Continue reading ‘Jeanne Du Barry’: Maïwenn Says “Crew Were Afraid” Of Johnny Depp During “Difficult Shoot” at The Playlist.

Johnny Depp was all smiles as he reunited with his old pals at the UK premiere of his French-language movie ‘Jeanne Du Barry.’

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star even cracked a few jokes along the way and expressed his gratitude to get to star as the “King of France” in Maïwenn’s ‘Jeanne Du Barry.’

Terry Gilliam – Calls Johnny Depp Out On His Lateness Arriving At Curzon Theater

On Monday, Johnny Depp reunited with director Terry Gilliam on the red carpet of his costume movie by French filmmaker Maïwenn. The film will be distributed in the UK starting April 19 via Depp’s London-based film company In.2.

During the premiere event, which took place at the Curzon theater in Mayfair, Gilliam apparently ticked Depp off by grilling him for being ten minutes late.

“Sorry, it’s too late — the film has started 10 minutes ago,” Gilliam, who directed Depp in 1998’s...

Coming off the high-profile defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp’s Jeanne du Barry, which debuted at Cannes last year, was seen as his big acting comeback. While Depp stressed he was grateful for the opportunity, critics were left less than thrilled about the French drama, as despite commending the film’s direction, it was deemed serviceable at best.

With the film finally set to debut in the US next month, director Maïwenn recalled her experience filming with a returning Depp, alleging the actor wasn’t the most professional to work with.

Maïwenn Alleged the Crew Was Scared of Johnny Depp on Set Maïwenn and Johnny Depp | Jeanne du Barry (via Le Pacte)

Although Johnny Depp stressed he was “endlessly grateful” for the director’s decision to take a chance with him, Maïwenn claimed filming with the actor was a difficult process. While they had a good...

On May 2, American theatergoers will finally get a chance to see “Jeanne du Barry,” Maïwenn’s take on the romance between King Louis Xv and his eponymous lover, that opened the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The film earned plenty of controversy for Depp’s casting and Maïwenn’s altercation with a journalist prior to its release. Now, its director is ready to speak about the chaotic filmmaking process.

In a new interview with The Independent ahead of the film’s theatrical release, Maïwenn reflected on the tumultuous experience of collaborating with Depp.

“I have to be honest. It’s difficult to shoot with him,” Maïwenn said. “All the crew were scared because he has a different kind of humor and we didn’t know if he was going to be on time, or if he was going to be Ok to say his lines… I mean, even if he was there on set,...

Johnny Depp has been on the longest hiatus of his career ever since making it in Hollywood. Even with his defamation case with Amber Heard having settled, fans wondered just when he would step in front of the camera again. That came at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, when Depp and director Maïwenn unveiled Jeanne du Barry, the actor’s first film since 2020’s Minimata. Now, Depp is giving due credit to his director for standing by his side and giving him the chance that even some of his closest collaborators were hesitant to.

Posting on Instagram, Depp shared a photo from a red carpet event for Jeanne du Barry – in which he plays Louis Xv – along with the following caption: “Endlessly grateful to the incomparable Maïwenn for choosing me as her King of France in ‘Jeanne du Barry’. Now playing across the UK & Ireland. Jd.X”

While we...

Universal’s vampire horror Abigail is aiming to take a bite out of the box office this weekend, as it opens in 545 sites in the UK and Ireland for Universal – the widest new opener of the weekend.

The film follows a kidnapping that goes outrageously awry. It shot in Ireland and is directed by US filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett – the team behind Scream and Scream VI. The cast includes Matilda The Musical’s Alisha Weir in the titular role, alongside Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens. Production companies are Project X Entertainment, Vinson Films and Radio Silence.

It’s...

Johnny Depp is slowly rebuilding his life following the whole overblown Amber Heard defamation case. Once one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars, he’s since been blacklisted following ex Amber Heard‘s claims he sexually and physically abused her during their relationship.

As a result of this, Depp lost his roles in “Fantastic Beasts” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” along with some others. While he’s not where he used to be career-wise, he’s grateful for having been giving a shot in Maïwen’s ‘Jeanne Du Barry.’

Johnny Depp -Says It Was “Perversely Lucky” To Play “the King of France”

Johnny Depp’s French-language movie is finally coming to the UK months after it premiered in France.

At the UK premiere of the movie, Depp stepped onstage alongside the film’s co-star and director Maïwenn and shared a few words about the movie.

“I feel very lucky to have been [offered the role] – strangely,...

Exclusive: Johnny Depp’s London-based film company In.2 is adding a new string to its bow with the release this Friday of French historical drama Jeanne du Barry.

Starring Depp as Louis Xv opposite French actress and director Maïwenn in the titular role, the picture opened the Cannes Film Festival last year.

As per Cannes’ stipulation for opening films, it released theatrically in France the same day, enjoying a successful run for distributor Le Pacte with the highest French gross for a Cannes opener since The Great Gatsby in 2013.

In.2 will release the movie on 70 screens on April 19 across the UK in a campaign spearheaded by Head of Production Stephen Malit.

The UK release will be followed by the U.S. launch by Vertical Entertainment on May 2, which has confirmed 600 theatres so far.

Deadline caught up with Malit as well as In.2 CEO Stephen Deuters and Development Coordinator Vivi Stone...

Studiocanal’s Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” debuted atop the U.K and Ireland box office with £2.77 million ($3.4 million), according to numbers from Comscore.

It was neck-and-neck for the second spot. Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Civil War,” directed by Alex Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, debuted with £1.82 million, including previews. In its third weekend, Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” collected £1.75 million over the three-day weekend for a running total of £17.29 million.

In fourth place, in its third weekend, Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” took in £1.18 million for a total of £11.89 million. Rounding off the top five, in its fourth weekend, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” earned £787,000 for a total of £14.06 million.

There were two debuts in the top 10, both from India. Rft Films’ Malayalam-language “Aavesham,” starring Fahadh Faasil, opened in ninth place with £207,300, while Yash Raj Films’ Bollywood film “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” with Akshay Kumar,...

Johnny Depp reunited with director Terry Gilliam on the red carpet of the UK premiere of French filmmaker MaÏwenn’s costume drama Jeanne du Barry on Monday evening.

Depp’s London-based film company In.2 is gearing up to release the Court of Versailles-set tale across the UK from this Friday, April 19.

Gilliam, who directed Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), jokingly ticked Depp off for his late arrival.

“Sorry, it’s too late — the film has started 10 minutes ago,” quipped Gilliam as Depp arrived at the Curzon Mayfair cinema.

He then referred to Depp as the “new Jackie Chan” as the actor enveloped him in a bear hug, seemingly in reference to the fact the star has been working out.

(Watch) Johnny Depp is greeted by Terry Gilliam as he arrives at UK premiere of ‘Jeanne du Barry’ pic.twitter.com/UU...

Johnny Depp is back on the red carpet.

The 60-year-old actor joined co-star and director Maïwenn at the UK premiere of their new movie Jeanne du Barry on Monday (April 15) held at the Curzon Theater in London, England.

Photos: Check out the latest pics of Johnny Depp

While at the premiere, Johnny opened up about being offered the role of French King Louis Xv.

“I feel very lucky to have been [offered the role] – strangely, oddly, perversely lucky,” Johnny said, via Variety. “Because when Maïwenn and I first actually met and talked about the notion of me doing the film and playing Louis Xv, the King of France — see that’s when instantly what happens in your brain is you instantly go back to Kentucky, where, like, everything is fried. So you realize that you’ve come from the bellybutton of nowhere and suddenly you end up playing the King of France.”

Keep reading to find out more…...

Johnny Depp said he felt “strangely, oddly, perversely lucky” to have been offered the role of French King Louis Xv at the U.K. premiere of his new film “Jeanne du Barry.”

Depp was accompanied by the film’s co-star and director Maïwenn on stage at the Curzon theater in Mayfair, where the duo briefly introduced the film.

“I feel very lucky to have been [offered the role] – strangely, oddly, perversely lucky,” he said on stage in London during a rare public appearance. “Because when Maïwenn and I first actually met and talked about the notion of me doing the film and playing Louis Xv, the King of France — see that’s when instantly what happens in your brain is you instantly go back to Kentucky, where, like, everything is fried. So you realise that you’ve come from the bellybutton of nowhere and suddenly you end up playing the King of France.

Vertical has unleashed a brand new U.S. trailer for the historical drama ‘Jeanne du Barry’ starring Johnny Depp.

The French-language film, set in the 18th century, tells the story of Jeanne Bécu (Maïwenn), the daughter of an impoverished seamstress who rose through the Court of King Louis Xv (played by Depp) and became his last official mistress.

Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favourite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as a courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love. Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court.

Directed by French actress and filmmaker Maïwenn (whose films include “DNA” and “My King”), the movie also stars Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud,...

"Jeanne du Barry", set in France 1768, is directed by Maïwenn, starring Johnny Depp, Maïwenn, Melvil Poupaud and Pierre Richard, releasing May 2, 2024 in theaters:

“…the film follows the life of ‘Jeanne Bécu’ (Maïwenn), who was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743…

“…and went on to rise through the Court of Louis Xv (Depp)...

"...to become his last official mistress…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

"You're in danger, Madame." Vertical has unveiled an official US trailer for Maïwenn's Jeanne du Barry, which is finally getting a theatrical release in he US one full year after it premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival last May. It already opened in France the same week as its Cannes premiere, but hasn't shown up in the US until now. In this film, Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and her allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favorite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love. Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court... The film also stars Maïwenn as Jeanne, plus Johnny Depp as King Louis Xv, along with Benjamin Lavernhe,...

Fathom Events and Vertical Entertainment have released the official trailer for Jeanne du Barry, the period drama written, directed, and produced by Maïwenn and starring herself and Johnny Depp.

Jeanne du Barry follows Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn), a working-class woman determined to climb the social ladder. She uses her charms to escape her impoverished life.

Her lover, the Comte du Barry (Melvil Poupaud), wishes to present her to King Louis Xv and orchestrates a meeting through the influential Duke of Richelieu (Pierre Richard).

The encounter goes far beyond his expectations, for it was love at first sight for the King and Jeanne. Through this ravishing courtesan, the king rediscovers his appetite for life and feels he can no longer live without her. Making Jeanne his last official mistress, scandal erupts as no one at Court will accept a girl from the streets into their rarified world.

The French-language film was written by Maïwenn,...

Fluff your powdered wig and fill your snuffbox because a trailer for French filmmaker Maïwenn’s Jeanne Du Barry is here to give you a front-row seat to one of history’s most notorious scandals. The lavish footage depicts Johnny Depp as Louis Xv and Maïwenn Besco as Jeanne Vaubernier, a woman willing to give a gloved middle finger to tradition to rise through society’s ranks. Decadent, scandalous, and filled with more drama than a season of Bridgerton, today’s Jeanne Du Barry trailer highlights Depp’s first significant feature since his public court battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard.

Here’s the official synopsis for Jeanne Du Barry:

“Jeanne du Barry follows Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn), a working-class woman determined to climb the social ladder, using her charms to escape her impoverished life. Her lover, the Comte du Barry (Melvil Poupaud), wishes to present her to King Louis Xv...

There’s probably no better evidence of the modern social and cultural difference between Europe and North America than in the French film, “Jeanne du Barry.” Written, directed, and produced by French filmmaker/actress Maïwenn and starring herself and Johnny Depp, just by Depp’s participation, it became something of a controversial movie in North America.

In the United States, despite winning his defamation trial lawsuit against Amber Heard, Depp is still essentially persona non-grata following his many controversies and the tabloid-heavy divorce reports that led to that infamous trial.

Continue reading ‘Jeanne Du Barry’ Trailer: Johnny Depp Mounts A Comeback In Maïwenn’s Period Drama Coming In May at The Playlist.

Johnny Depp is back on the big screen with “Jeanne du Barry.”

Helmed by co-writer/director/producer/star Maïwenn, the 18th-century-set drama follows the ill-fated romance between King Louis Xv (Depp) and Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn), a working-class woman determined to climb the social ladder. Jeanne’s lover, the Comte du Barry (Melvil Poupaud), presents her to King Louis Xv (Depp) through the influential Duke of Richelieu (Pierre Richard). The meeting turns into an affair, and Jeanne becomes the King’s last official mistress. Scandal erupts as no one at Court will accept a girl from the streets into their rarified world.

Benjamin Lavernhe and Pascal Greggory also star, with Pauline Pollmann portraying Marie-Antoinette in the feature that opened the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

“Jeanne du Barry” was also written by Teddy Lussi-Modeste and Nicolas Livecchi. The film is produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Grégoire Sorlat.

The feature was acquired by Vertical...

Clockwise from left: The Big Lebowski (Working Title Films/Gramercy Pictures), Barber (Fubar Films), Stars At Noon (Canal+)Image: The A.V. Club

For the first full month of spring, Hulu adds some fan-favorite films as well as some recent indie movies before the summer movie season begins and we turn our attention to big-budget blockbusters.

Vertical has acquired U.S. rights to “Bucky F*cking Dent,” a father-son story set against the 1978 Red Sox vs. Yankees pennant race.

The movie was written, directed by and stars David Duchovny. It also happens to be based on Duchovny’s 2016 best-selling novel of the same name. The cast of “Bucky F*cking Dent” includes Logan Marshall-Green (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), Stephanie Beatriz (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), Jason Beghe (“Chicago P.D.”), Evan Handler (“Californication”) with Daphne Rubin-Vega (“In the Heights”) and Pamela Adlon (“King of Staten Island”). The film is produced by Yale Productions’ Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, as well as Duchovny.

“Bucky F*cking Dent” had its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. The release date is slated for later this year.

The film follows Ted (Marshall-Green), a failed writer-turned-Yankees Stadium peanut seller who moves back home after learning of the failing health of his Red Sox-obsessed father, Marty (David Duchovny). While...

Jeanne Du Barry starring Johnny Depp (Photo Credit – IMDb)

The last film Johnny Depp starred in was W Eugene Smith’s Minamata. In 2022, the actor was busy with the court trial in a defamation case filed against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The trial lasted six weeks, and Johnny won a defamation suit. Depp has been absent from movies since then. Well, his film Jeanne Du Barry is all set to release in theatres soon.

Jeanne Du Barry is cited as Johnny Depp’s comeback film after his trial ended. He has had no release for three years now. On the other hand, Amber Heard was last seen in Aquaman 2 (2023). Depp’s film was premiered during the opening of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The Depp starrer has not got a US release date. Read more details about the same below.

Jeanne Du Barry Cast

The film stars Johnny Depp as Louis Xv,...