Jordan Karlesson
Johnny Depp will direct his first movie in 25 years, and Al Pacino will produce it, Variety reported Monday.
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Depp will reportedly helm Modigliani, a biographical drama about Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani.
Modigliani will reportedly be based on a same-named play that Dennis McIntyre (State of Grace) wrote.
“Long considered by himself a critical and commercial failure, [Modigliani] navigates a turbulent and eventful 48 hours that will become a turning point in his life, ultimately solidifying his reputation as an artistic legend,” Variety said.
Depp reportedly said in a statement that he is “incredibly honored, and truly humbled, to bring [the saga of Mr. Modigliani’s life] to the screen”. It was a life of great hardship, but eventual triumph — a universally human story all viewers can identify with.”
Johnny Depp’s Return To The Big Screen Amid Legal Row
Modigliani appears poised to be Depp’s onscreen successor to Jeanne du Barry, a film that is currently in production. But instead of serving as director, Depp will star in that movie, as Louis XV, alongside titular star Maïwenn.
A jury awarded Depp $15 million after finding that Heard had in fact defamed him in an op-ed for the Washington Post, in which she claimed to be the victim of abuse. Heard received $2 million in damages. She is currently appealing the verdict.
Recently released documents contain texts in which Depp and friend Marilyn Manson commiserated about their partners, Newsweek recently reported. The texts reportedly appeared in thousands of pages unsealed over the weekend in Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard’s defamation case.
Shock-rocker Manson reportedly called his current wife, Lindsay Usich, “an amber [sic] 2.0” in a 2016 text to Depp. He also allegedly told Depp that Usich “pulled an Amber.” Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, was dating Usich at the time he sent the messages.
Meanwhile, Pacino’s co-star in The Godfather, Diane Keaton, recently said no one wanted him cast as Michael Corleone in the trilogy.
