Johnny Depp is set to direct the first movie in 25 years as he teams up with co-producer Al Pacino to create a biopic about artist Amedeo Modigliani… following the Amber Heard defamation trial
- Johnny Depp will direct his first film in 25 years when he returns to Hollywood following his libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard
- The 59-year-old actor will direct Modigliani, a biopic about Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani, according to The Hollywood Reporter
- Production is slated to begin in spring 2023 in Europe and the cast will be announced soon, according to THR
- News of the film comes after Depp resigned as King Louis XV. in Jeanne Du Barry, his first film role since his libel trial against Amber
Johnny Depp will direct his first film in 25 years when he returns to Hollywood following his libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
The 59-year-old actor will direct Modigliani, a biopic about Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Depp will produce the film alongside Al Pacino and Barry Navidi, which will be the first film he has directed since making his directorial debut with the 1997 film The Brave.
Johnny Depp will direct his first film in 25 years when he returns to Hollywood following his libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard; pictured 2017
Modigliani, based on the play by Dennis McIntyre and adapted for the screen by Jerzy and Mary Kromolowski, accompanies the artist in Paris in 1916.
“Long viewed by himself as a critical and commercial failure, Modigliani navigates a turbulent and eventful 48 hours that will become a turning point in his life and ultimately cement his reputation as an artistic legend,” writes THR.
Production is slated to begin in spring 2023 in Europe and the cast will be announced soon, according to THR.
“The saga of Mr. Modigliani’s life is one that I am incredibly honored and truly humbled to bring to screens,” Depp told The Hollywood Reporter. “It was a life of hardship, but triumphs in the end – a universally human story that all viewers can relate to.”
co-producer! Depp will produce the film alongside Al Pacino and Barry Navidi, which will be the first film he has directed since 1997 drama The Brave
The Edwards Scissorhands actor will produce the film through IN.2, the European subsidiary of his production company Infinitum Nihil Pacino and Navidi will produce the film along with Depp and IN.2.
This isn’t the first time Pacino and Navidi have worked together, with the duo also appearing on The Merchant of Venice and Wilde Salomé.
“This project was very important to Al. Al introduced me to the Modigliani play many years ago and I fell in love with it instantly,” Navidi told THR. “This is an excerpt from Modi’s life and not a biography. It’s been a dream of mine to work with Johnny again – he’s a true artist with an amazing vision to bring this great story to the big screen.”
News of the film comes after Depp resigned as King Louis XV. in Jeanne Du Barry, his first film role since his libel trial against Amber.
Trial: Jeanne Du Barry marks a return for Johnny after much of Hollywood blacklisted him following allegations of domestic violence from Amber (pictured June 2022)
Jeanne Du Barry marks a return for Johnny after much of Hollywood blacklisted him following allegations of domestic violence from Amber.
Filming on the project reportedly began in July – after the trial concluded – and is set to last 11 weeks, according to the deadline.
The story follows the title character Jeanne, a working-class woman who climbs the social hierarchy of Paris and eventually attracts the attention of King Louis XV.
Jeanne Du Barry follows the title character Jeanne, a working-class woman who climbs the social hierarchy of Paris and eventually catches the attention of King Louis XV; Depp depicted as a character
In 2020, a UK court ruled that 12 out of 14 incidents of violence alleged by Amber were “essentially true” and Johnny was subsequently sentenced to death at the request of Warner Bros.
But following his own US defamation lawsuit against Amber, which awarded him $15 million, the star seems to be reviving interest.
Johnny is reportedly in talks to star in another Pirates of the Caribbean movie and reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow following a $301 million offer from Disney.
Johnny reportedly joked that he wouldn’t return to the Pirates franchise even if he was offered $300 million, prompting Disney to offer him $1 million more.
His last film, Minimata, about war photographer W. Eugene Smith, was released in 2020.