For those who ask to see Johnny Depp back on the big screen, they won’t have to wait long.
Johnny Depp may have won his defamation suit against ex-wife Amber Heard, but that doesn’t mean he’s back in the Hollywood box office.
Despite the fervent wishes of his staunch fans, Depp’s reputation remains on the court thanks to the condemnable behavior the actor showed in his relationship with Heard.
Outstanding Hollywood studios will be reluctant to work with Depp again despite the verdict in his favor: the risk / reward matrix is not up to par when there are still legions of viewers who will boycott anything in it.
His career has also been in decline for the last decade, no longer the box office draw that used to be for people like Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount or Universal to fund a Depp movie is not worth the controversy without a financial guarantee. balance.
But that doesn’t mean he’ll never work again.
Depp’s future lies in independent roles where he is less risky for younger financiers and filmmakers hoping to take advantage of his remaining talent and his frantic, vocal fan base.
Depp already has his next project ready, but not in Hollywood.
Depp is linked to French cinema Jeanne du Barry, a biographical film of the famous mistress of King Louis XV. Depp is scheduled to play the pre-Revolutionary king who ruled France for nearly six decades.
French actor Maiwenn will direct and play Du Barry, while the film will also feature Louis Garrel, Pierre Richard and Noemie Lvovsky. Variety reported that the film will begin shooting in the summer in the northern hemisphere and will be shot at the Palace of Versailles.
European producer Wild Bunch is funding the film and brought it to the Cannes market earlier this year to sell the global distribution rights. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
Wild Bunch has previously supported a number of critically acclaimed art films, including Ken Loach. Jo, Daniel BlakeHirokazu Kore-eda’s The thieves and that of Guillermo del Toro Pan’s maze.
Wild Bunch also has on its board the upcoming film by the disgraced filmmaker Roman Polanski.
There are also unverified rumors that Depp could have been released in the near future Beetle juice sequel, but that could be the fulfillment of wishes by his supporters more than anything else.
Beetle juice was a 1988 film directed by Tim Burton, who worked with Depp on several films, including Edward Manis of scissors, Todd Sweeney, Sleepy Hollow i Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Burton and Depp’s last collaboration was in 2016 Alice through the looking glasswhich Burton did not direct but produced.
A sequel to Beetlejuice has been around for decades, but it was consolidated in February when reports emerged that Brad Pitt’s producer, Plan B, had joined the project.
With the participation of Plan B and Warner Bros., where the film was being developed, it seems unlikely that Depp will be welcome.
Warner Bros. is home to the Harry Potter movies: Depp was kicked out of the Fantastic Beasts franchise and replaced by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen.