It’s not Venice without a bit of controversy. Last year, they screened the latest works from Woody Allen, Roman Polanski and Luc Besson. This year, it’ll be Johnny Depp.
Variety reports that Depp’s “Modi”, his first directorial effort in 25 years, is set to premiere on the Lido in September. This is a biopic of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. Pacino will be joined by lead star Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick Chapter 2), and Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent).
Based on a play by Dennis McIntyre, the film will tell the story of the famous painter, during his time in Paris 1916, zeroing in on the 48 hours which had him running from police through the streets and bars of war-torn Paris.
Depp’s first film as a director was 1997’s “The Brave” starring Marlon Brando. It was met with negative reviews at Cannes and, ultimately, Depp decided not to release the film in the United States. Whether “Modi” is good or bad, I can’t see it getting positive reviews at Venice, and I’m sure Depp is very well aware of that as well.
Pacino was last seen in 2021’s “House of Gucci.” He had a cameo in the Michael Keaton directed “Knox Goes Away,” which was released in the Spring. He also recently shot “Sniff” with director Taylor Hackford.
Back to Depp, he might still be struggling to make a comeback in the United States, but he seems very keen in working on European productions. Last year, he was in Maiwenn’s “Jeanne du Barry,” which premiered at Cannes to much controversy. “Modi” was shot with Italian money backing it.
Depp was quickly deemed persona non grata in Hollywood because of former wife Amber Heard’s domestic violence accusations. He had to go to court to get his good name back, but, even after his victory, it doesn’t look like he’s being accepted back in many industry circles.
It doesn’t matter that people like Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, Al Pacino, and Terry Gilliam are on Depp’s side — rather, it’s once accused, always accused. Cancel culture at its finest. It’s good to know that non-U.S. venues like Cannes and Venice are still open to accepting him.
Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.