Johnny Depp‘s comeback movie, the historical drama Jeanne du Barry, is set to have its world premiere on opening night of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, Variety is reporting. The three-time Oscar-nominated performer plays Louis XV in his return to acting, following a three-year hiatus. He last appeared on screen in the 2020 biographical drama, Minamata, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival.
The Golden Globe-winning actor’s appearance in Jeanne du Barry comes after his long legal battle with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The battle culminated in him winning a defamation trial against the actress in December.
Jeanne du Barry was directed by Maïwenn, who also plays the feature’s titular character. The filmmaker also co-wrote the project with Teddy Lussi-Modeste.
The following official synopsis has been released for Jeanne du Barry: Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favorite of King Louis XV who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love. Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court.
Along with his co-stars, Depp speaks French in the drama, which marks the first time he performs in the language throughout a feature. He has had a long love affair with France: between 1998 and 2012, he was in a relationship with French singer Vanessa Paradis, who’s the mother of his two children, including César Award-nominated actress Lily-Rose Depp. He has also owned various properties in the country.
Besides Depp and Maïwenn, the period film also stars Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair. Jeanne du Barry was produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Gregoire Sorlat’s Paris-based Why Not Productions (Rust and Bone, A Prophet), and Depp’s banner IN2.
Goodfellas (previously Wild Bunch International) is handling the movie’s world sales. Le Pacte will distribute the drama in France on the same day as Cannes’ opening night, Tuesday, May 16.
As a scribe-helmer, Maiwenn previously attended Cannes in 2011 with her crime drama, Polisse, which won the festival’s Jury Prize. The filmmaker also attended the festival in 2015 with the romantic drama, My King, for which Emmanuelle Bercot won the best actress award. Jeanne du Barry is also expected to play in competition.
Cannes will unveil its Official Selection on Thursday, April 13. The festival has already confirmed it will screen a pair of anticipated U.S. movies, including Martin Scorsese’s Western crime drama, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Disney’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Ruben Ostlund, the two-time Palme d’Or director of The Square and Triangle of Sadness, will preside over the jury.