Johnny Depp inJeanne du Barry(2023).Photo: Stéphanie Branchu
Johnny Deppis looking regal in his next film role.
In two new photos from French writer/director Maïwenn’s upcoming period dramaJeanne du Barry, Depp, 59, stars as King Louis XV.
An industry source tells PEOPLE there have been conversations about the film premiering at the 2023Cannes Film Festivalin May.
Jeanne du Barryhad an 11-week shoot, which took place both in studios and at famous locations in France like the Palace of Versailles, according toDeadline. The movie follows the story of the King of France’s last royal mistress Jeanne du Barry, who was born into poverty but managed to climb the social ladder using her intelligence to become Louis XV’s favorite companion,the outletreported in August.
Maïwenn, 46, costars alongside Depp as the titular Jeanne du Barry in the film, which she also cowrote in addition to directing.
The film will also star Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud, Noémie Lvovsky, Pascal Greggory, and India Hair as additional cast members.
Jeanne du Barry(2023).Stéphanie Branchu
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The project serves as Depp’s first feature film in three years, and follows hisdefamation trialagainst ex-wifeAmber Heard. Last month, the two reached a settlement and decided to toss out their appeals; Heard will pay $1 million and said in a lengthystatement: “I have made no admission. This is not an act of concession. There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward.”
Depp’s lawyers Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez said in a statement, “We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr. Depp, who made clear throughout this process that his priority was about bringing the truth to light. The jury’s unanimous decision and the resulting judgement in Mr. Depp’s favor against Ms. Heard remain fully in place. The payment of $1 million — which Mr. Depp is pledging and will donate to charities — reinforces Ms. Heard’s acknowledgement of the conclusion of the legal system’s rigorous pursuit for justice.”
Johnny Depp in October.Noam Galai/Getty
Depp’smost recent rolewas as photographer W. Eugene Smith in the dramaMinamata, which he also co-produced. WhileMinamatawas notreleased in the U.S.until December 2021, it premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2020.
It tells the story of the Italian born painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani in Paris in 1916. Depp previously said in a press release, “The saga of Mr. Modigliani’s life is one that I’m incredibly honored, and truly humbled, to bring to the screen. It was a life of great hardship, but eventual triumph — a universally human story all viewers can identify with.”
source: people.com
