I find this very refreshing (and amusing).
Johnny Depp’s “comeback” film will be opening the 76th Cannes Film Festival. That’s right, Maïwenn’s “Jeanne du Barry” has been bestowed the honors of launching the prestigious festival next month.
Variety says the film will play in competition, which means three out of the last four films Maïwenn has directed were in contention for the Palme d’Or — only 2020’s “DNA” didn’t compete and that was because Cannes got canceled that year due to the pandemic.
The period movie is said to revolve around the tumultuous relationship between French king Louis XV and his lover, Jeanne du Barry (played by Maiwenn), whom he brought into the Versailles Palace to live near him even though she wasn’t a noble. Louis XV would go on to reign France for 59 years.
Depp barely spoke French before the start of filming so it will be interesting to see how he pulls it off without an accent.
Blacklisted in Hollywood these last five years, Depp’s comeback film, post-Heard trial, started shooting last fall in Versailles and Paris. The actor doesn’t have anything else lined up after this, but it is indeed being dubbed as his “comeback” vehicle.
Could you just imagine the Cannes press conference for this one? Despite not being a critical darling, Maïwenn has been a favorite of Cannes boss Thierry Fremaux’s with her films “DNA”, “Mon Roi” and “Polisse.”
I doubt Fremaux really cares if Depp stars in a competition film. It seems like an overwhelming amount of the French have sided with Depp who has an admired history with the country, especially after his marriage with French actress Vanessa Paradis.
I’m anxiously looking forward to people losing their minds over Woody Allen and Johnny Depp walking down the Lumière theater red carpet next month. Fremaux is fearless. Too bad Polanski’s film wasn’t “ready.”